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HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWN OF CARVER 

MASSACHUSETTS 



Historical Review 

1637 TO 1910 



HENRY S. GRIFFITH 



NEW BEDFORD, MASS, 

E. ANTHONY & SONS, Inc., Printers 

1913 






Gjtft 

Author 






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PREFACE 

In the course of a conversation about three 
years ago I was urged to write the history of 
Carver. It was pointed out that the character 
of our population is rapidly changing, that among 
the new residents there are no ties reaching back 
to Old Colony ancestors, and that should any one 
undertake to write the story a few years hence 
there would be no sentiment among the people 
that would insure its publication. At the present 
time, too, there are descendants of Carver scat- 
tered between the two oceans and these might 
appreciate such a memento of their New England 
ancestors. And acting upon the above suggestion 
much of the data had been gathered when at the 
annual town meeting in 1912, Prank E. Barrows, 
Donald McFarlin and myself were delegated to 
arrange for its publication. 

One engaged in historical research appreciates 
the importance of comprehensive records. Our 
earliest society records are not complete. Many 
of them were first kept on loose leaves which later 
were copied in books, while our ancestors have 
scarcely left a mark concerning the incidents 
which so strongly appeal to our fancy. The earlier 
records were unsigned, in the case of churches 
they were kept by the ministers, and the 19th cen- 
tury was well under way when the practice of 

iii 



iv PREFACE 

making clerk signed records came into vogue. In 
some of the records double dating was not in- 
variably practiced, and where I have used single 
dates during that period the Julian calendar date 
is to be understood. 

Our town records are in a good state of pres- 
ervation, the older volumes having been preserved 
by the Emory process. The first books contain 
vital records copied from the records of Plymp- 
ton, but generally speaking our vital records be- 
gin with the year of the town's incorporation. We 
have duplicates of the first two volumes of the 
town records made by Ira Murdock. 

The Precinct records in the custody of the Con- 
gregationalist Church are not in good condition, 
and these with the records of the Proprietors of 
the South Meeting House and the first volume of 
the Baptist Society records, in consideration of 
their historical value, should be carefully pre- 
served. Unfortunately the church records of 
Eeverends Campbell and Howland of the first 
church are missing, and this removes from view 
the baptisms from 1732 to 1804 (the period of 
their greatest value) and doubtless other facts 
that would be of interest. The records of the 
Proprietors of the Congregationalist Church 
(1823) and of the Baptist Church (1824) are also 
missing with whatever of interest they may have 
contained. 

As there was no attempt at a systematic record 
of vital statistics previous to 1842, the gravestone 
inscriptions are important and the date of death 
of some who were not thus honored is lost. The 



PREFACE V 

writer, assisted by young friends, copied these 
inscriptions in 1900, and these transcribed in a 
book, form a valued record now in the possession 
of the town. A few mistakes were made in the 
process of copying, but in view of the fact that 
the inscriptions are fast becoming indecipherable 
on some of the older stones, this record will pre- 
serve some dates that otherwise might be lost. 

The compulsory return of vital statistics was 
not required until 1850, and to make up for the 
deficiency the State officials have entered upon a 
policy that will ultimately put the State Library 
in possession of copies of the older records and 
also insure their publication. The writer fur- 
nished the State with a copy of the vital records 
of Carver, and this copy, with additions from the 
cemetery record above referred to and from pri- 
vate records, has been published, thus relieving 
this work of anything in the line of genealogy. 

In a work of this kind mistakes are easy to 
make. To take the imperfect records and evolve 
a complete story without an omission, a repetition 
or a contradiction requires a mind more proficient 
in the art of deduction, and with more patience 
than the writer happens to possess. The his- 
torian of a community rich in traditional legends 
who in the course of his researches becomes ac- 
quainted with the social and industrial past, and 
who is thus in a position to compare the painted 
picture with the barren field of history, must feel 
a sense of dissatisfaction with his work. Espe- 
cially is this true when we attempt to picture the 
■social conditions of the first settlers. We know 



vi PREFACE 

their experiences as pioneers were replete with 
dangers and romances, the simple narration of 
which would make a thrilling story, but when we 
ask of departed time a revelation of her secrets 
our question re-echoes across a barren waste. 

I fancy I see the smiles of satisfaction — if not 
of vanity — on the faces of the residents of the 
first half of the eighteenth century as they review 
the progress they had made not only in material' 
things, but in the realm of civil and religious lib- 
erty. And if we compare that record with that 
of some of their European contemporaries we may 
concede their right to boast over their achieve- 
ments. And when I review the progress made 
in the Colony from the ascension of William a7id 
Mary to the middle of the succeeding century I 
am forced to hold the opinion that we gained 
more in the cause of liberty by the English than 
we did by the American Eevolution. 

Unfortunately local records are silent regard- 
ing the personnel of the Eevolutionary Army and 
the only glimpse we get of the individual records 
of our patriotic sires is in the more or less con- 
flicting rolls on file in the Archive Department at 
the State House. These rolls have been classi- 
fied, indexed and published, and anyone seeking 
the record of an ancestor is referred to these vol- 
umes. In this story I have only sought to give 
a general idea of what our mother town did in 
the cause of national independence. My list is 
so unsatisfactory that I feel like apologizing for 
it, and the danger of doing an injustice to some 
enthusiastic patriot impels me to refer to the pub- 



PREFACE vii 

lication mentioned above as an appeal from my 
efforts. There was no dividing line between the 
two Precincts so far as the Eevolution is con- 
cerned, and it would be an endless genealogical 
task to make a separate list of the soldiers who 
resided in the South Precinct, so I have made a 
list of all who served to the credit of the town of 
Plympton. In the enthusiastic march to dislodge 
the enemy from the town of Marshfield, fruitless 
except as an indication of the unanimous senti- 
ment of the town, those militia men who served 
under Captains William Atwood and Nathaniel 
Shaw were mainly from the South Precinct. I 
suspect the soldier who appears on the rolls as 
Swanzea Murdock may have been a negro known 
locally as Swanzea. He was employed by Bartlett 
Murdock, and with only one name of his own his 
posterity will excuse him for borrowing that of 
his employer in such a patriotic cause. The vari- 
ous ways of spelling names as they appear on the 
rolls is a handicap, and I have followed the mod- 
ern way of spelling. 

At t]ie time this is written there appears no way 
of obtaining a reliable list of the soldiers who 
served in the second war with Great Britain, in 
consequence of which those veterans are denied 
their place in this story. The State has begun 
the task of rescuing these names from their tomb 
in the War Department ai Washington, and while 
the Adjutant General of the State has completed 
his part the publication will not be made before 
this work is published. 



viii PREFACE 

In my list of volunteers of the Civil War I have 
included two names who, while residents of the 
town, did not fill a quota of Carver. Albert T. 
Shurtleff, the first to enlist, joined a Ehode Island 
regiment, and Ezra Pearsons enlisted to the credit 
of the State of Maine. 

I express gratitude to the memory of the late 
Lewis Pratt, who gave me so much from a good 
memory relating to the old time furnaces; also 
to the late William T. Davis, an authority on Old 
Colony history. In my story of the natural con- 
ditions of the town I give credit to Miss Helena 
McFarlin, who furnished me with a list of the 
birds and wild flowers. 

H. S. G. 

South Carver, June 19, 1913. 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Natural Conditions 1 

Indians 13 

The First Speculators 19 

A Few Early Laws 31 

The First Separation 43 

Early Settlers 51 

The South Precinct of Plympton .... 65 

Plympton in the Revolution 91 

The Congregationalist Church .... Ill 

The South Meeting House 121 

The Second Separation 135 

The Temperance Movement 155 

The Baptist Church . 163 

The Methodist Church 175 

The Advent Christian Church .... 181 

The Union Society ........ 185 

Furnaces and Foundries 191 

The Cranberry Industry . . . . . . * 217 

Military History 223 

Carver in the Rebellion 231 

War of 1812-14 ^. ... 241 

ix 



X HISTORY OF CARVER 

Page 

Post Offices 243 

Small Pox 244 

Cemeteries 245 

Population 250 

Miscellaneous Industries 251 

Chronological Events 257 

Landmarks 265 

Biographical Sketches 271 

Precinct Officers 293 

Parish Officers 302 

Church Members 305 

State and County Officers 326 

Town Officers 328 

Index of Names 341 



ILLUSTEATIONS 

Facing 
Page 

The South Meeting Rouse . Frontispiece 

A View of Sampsons Pond viii 

A View of East Head Woods .... 8 

Barretts Pond 16 

A Corner on Hemlock Island .... 24 

The Shurtleff Homestead 26 

The Sturtevant House ....... 30 

Residence of Finney Brothers 32 

The Griffith Homestead 40 

The Waterman House 48 

The Carver Primary Schoolhouse . . . 50 

The Wenham Schoolhouse 54 

The Popes Point Schoolhouse .... 58 
The Bates Pond Schoolhouse ... .62 

The South Carver Schoolhouse .... 72 

Benjamin W. Bobbins 80 

The Second Church 88 

The Congregational Church 96 

Hon. Benjamin Ellis 106 

Huit McFarlin 110 

Henry Sherman 112 

xi 



xii HISTORY OF CARVER 

Facing 
Page 

The Town Rail 120 

The North Carver Schoolhouse ..... 122 

The High School Building ...... 126 

Thomas Hammond, Jr 136 

The Baptist Church 144 

The Hammond Homestead 152 

The Methodist Church ^. . 160 

The Methodist Chapel 168 

The Advent Christian Church .... 176 

The Union Church 178 

Lewis Pratt, Jr 182 

The Charlotte Furnace Building .... 186 

Hon. Peleg McFarlin 190 

Hon, Jesse Murdoch 200 

Eben D. Shaw 208 

Federal Screen House 210 

Section of Federal Village 214 

A Section of the Wankinco Bog .... 218 

Albert T. Shurtleff 222 

Capt. William S. McFarlin 224 

Maj. Thomas B. Griffith ...... 232 

The Soldiers Monument 234 

Thomas Southworth 238 

Lakenham Cemetery 248 



ILLUSTRATIONS xiii 

Facing 
Page 

Harrison G. Cole 256 

George P. Bowers 264 

Horatio A. Lucas 272 

A Section of East Head Game Preserve . 274 

Andrew Griffith 278 

William Savery 280 

Mrs. Rosa A. Cole .. 288 

Dea. Thomas Cobh 296 

John Maxim, Jr 304 

Mrs. Priscilla Jane Barrows ..... 312 

Ellis H. Cornish, M. D 320 



History of Carver 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



NATURAL CONDITIONS 

Tlie town of. Carver, comprising about tweuty- 
fonr thousand acres, is located midway between 
tidewater in Plymouth and tidewater in Ware- 
ham. The centre of the town would fall near 41 
degrees 52 minutes north latitude while a meridian 
70%. degrees west from Greenwich would intersect 
the parallel near the centre of the town. The 
Weweantic river separates a short section in the 
southwest from Middleboro, the Wankinco about 
the same distance of the southeastern border 
from Plymouth, otherwise the town has no natural 
boundaries. Generally speaking the town is 
bounded on the north by Plympton, on the east by 
Kingston and Plymouth, on the south by Ply- 
mouth and Wareham, and on the west by Ware- 
ham and Middleboro. 

The northern and southern sections are rolling 
interspersed with ponds and swamps with the 
central section mainly level. Several thousand 
acres in the southeastern section is made up of 
barren hills, sterile except for scattering scrub 
oaks and pines and occasional fertile spots. The 

1 



2 HISTORY OF CARVER 

conditions surrounding the swamps are peculiarly 
adapted to cranberry culture, and the upland, 
worthless in a commercial sense, is noted for its 
scenic beauty. The most desirable land for agri- 
cultural purposes is in the north section where 
the earliest settlements were made. 

While the town is generally noted for its sandy 
soil, there are marks of a glacial drift and occa- 
sional spots of rich deposits. Stretching across 
the central section in a southeasterly course a 
windrow of boulders separates the better soil of 
the north from the sandy soil of the south. The 
widest deviation in this windrow is in the terri- 
tory from Sampson's pond to Cedar brook, which 
is made up of bowlders. One extension which has 
acquired the sobriquet of The Ridge protrudes 
from the main drift in a southerly direction and 
separates the pond from the large cedar swamp 
which appears to be in the same depression. 
Tillson's brook, which unites the cedar swamp 
with the pond, makes its connection around the 
southerly end of the ridge. 

Three streams, dignified in local history by the 
name of rivers, form the basis of the town's 
drainage system, viz. : The Winatuxet, the Wewe- 
antic and the Wankinquoah. Lakenham brook, 
running northerly from its source in Lakenham 
pond, in its junction with Mahutchett brook, gives 
rise to the Winatuxet. This river is also fed by 
Annasnapet brook, which flows westerly across 
the north end of the town. In turn this brook is 
swelled by two smaller streams, Huntinghouse 
brook and another to the east, both running north- 



NATURAL CONDITIONS 3 

erly and emptying their contents into Annasnapet 
brook. 

The Weweantic rising at Swan Hold and flowing 
across the town in a southwesterly course, with 
its great tributary, the Crane brook, drains the 
larger half of the town. Wenham brook, which 
flows from Wenham pond southerly; Horseneck 
brook, flowing from the Centre swamp easterly; 
Causeway brook, flowing from a swamp on the 
Wenham road southerly ; Beaver Dam brook, flow- 
ing from Beaver Dam pond westerly ; Cedar brook, 
running westerly from the cedar swamp; two 
brooks flowing out of New Meadows westerly; a 
blind brook flowing westerly from No-Bottom 
pond, and Atwood brook, flowing southwesterly 
from Bates' pond, all add to the majesty of the 
Weweantic. 

With the exception of East Head, West Head 
and the swamps on the Wareham-Carver town 
line, the Crane brook drains the territory south 
of the cedar swamp, including the southerly sec- 
tion of the swamp itself. This stream flows from 
Federal ponds southwesterly, pouring its accu- 
mulated waters into the Weweantic just before it 
leaves the town. Dunham's pond sends its sur- 
plus water down the Crane brook either directly 
through a short brook that connects its easterly 
shore, or indirectly through Tillson's brook, 
which flows from the cedar swamp southwesterly 
into Sampson's pond. This pond also receives 
water from the New Meadows country through a 
brook that crosses Eochester road east of Union 
church, and sends its surplus to the Crane brook 
through its southerly outlet, Sampson's brook. 



4 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Cedar pond and Clear pond are closely related 
and connect with Crane brook through the west- 
erly outlet, more or less blind, that makes through 
the swamp southwesterly. Indian brook, rising in 
Indian swamp and running southerly, fed itself 
by a brook running from near the southwesterly 
point of Sampson's pond, adds to the waters of 
the Crane brook. 

East Head brook, running from East Head 
and West Head brook, running from White 
springs, give rise to the Wankinquoah, which 
drains the swamps in that region and empties its 
waters in Tihonet pond. The swamps in the ex- 
treme southerly section of the town also drain 
into Tihonet pond through Mosquito brook. Eose 
brook has its source in these swamps, but drains 
but a small part of them. 

Cooper's, John's, Triangle, Gould's Bottom and 
Barrett's ponds have no outlets. 

The large area of the town, sparsely populated, 
with numerous ponds, streams and jungles, unite 
to make the territory a favored breeding ground 
of the fish, animals and birds that thrive in this 
latitude. 

Fish formed a staple article of food for the 
earlier settlers and in the days of the first resi- 
dents the industry developed three fish weirs. 
Sampson's and Doty's ponds were breeding 
places for herrings until their egress and ingress 
was closed by the development of manufacturing 
along the Weweantic river. These ponds were also 
stocked with white perch, a valued food fish until 
the species became land locked, since which it has 



NATURAL CONDITIONS 5 

so far degenerated as to become nearly worthless. 
During the latter half of the 19th century some 
of the ponds were stocked with black bass and 
that species has become the most valuable for 
food. The list of fresh water fish that have always 
thrived would include pickerel, red perch, shiners, 
white fish, roaches, hornpouts and brook trout. 

Deer, the largest of our wild animals, find fa- 
vorable conditions. Through persistent hunting 
they were exterminated in the latter half of the 
19th century but under the protection of the law 
they regained a foot hold and the opening days 
of the 20th century found them so numerous as 
to be actually depredations. 

The first settlers found beavers and wolves in 
abundance. The former were highly prized for 
commercial reasons and quickly exterminated 
while war was declared on the latter also for well 
known reasons and they too disappeared. Foxes 
and skunks have ever been regarded with suspic- 
ion and while they have never had the protection 
of the law they still thrive. Being valued for 
their furs there is a double motive for destroying 
them and the persistency in which they hold their 
own is creditable to their cunning. Other animals 
which are valued for their furs, but which ap- 
pear to be disappearing are otters, minks, rac- 
coons, muskrats and weasels. 

The woods once teemed with hare and rabbits, 
but these are liable to be extinct. The destruction 
of their breeding places in the process of cran- 
berry bog construction is the main cause of the 
extermination of this game, with increasing popu- 



6 HISTORY OF CARVER 

lation, forest fires and persistent hunting as con- 
tributing factors. Gray squirrels, red squirrels, 
and chipmunks are undiminished. 

The first settlers declared war on crows, crow 
blackbirds and red birds (brown thrashers) in 
the interests of their corn fields, but in spite of 
these inconveniences the birds are with us yet and 
as we get better acquainted with them we rejoice 
that they have not been exterminated. 



Following is a list of the birds of the town: 



Land 
American cross bills 
Blue birds 
Blue jays 
Bobolinks 
Brown creepers 
Brown thrashers 
Cat birds 
Cedar waxwings 
Chats 
Chebecs 

Chewinks (tohee) 
Chickadees 
Chimney swifts 
Cow birds 
Crows 
Cuckoos 
Doves 
Gold finches (yellow 

birds) 
Golden crowned kinglets 
Grackles (purple and 

bronze) 



Birds 
Hawks 

Humming birds 
Indigo birds 
Juncos 
King birds 
King fishers 
Martins 

Maryland yellowthroat 
Meadow larks 
Night Hawks 
Nut hatches (red breasted 

and white breasted) 
Orioles 
Ospreys 
Ovenbirds 
Owls 
Pewees 
Phebe birds 
Purple finches (linnets) 
Quails 
Rails 
Red winged blackbirds 



NATURAL CONDITIONS 



Redstarts 




Swallows 


Robins 




Thrushes 


Rose breasted grosbecks 


Vieros 


Ruffed grouse 




Warblers (myrtle, chest- 


Sand pipers 




nut sided, etc.) 


Scarlet tanagers 




Whip-poor-wills 


Shrikes (butcher birds) 


Woodpeckers 


Snow buntings 




Wrens 


Sparrows 








Waders 


Bitterns 




Snipe 


Plovers 




Yellow legs 


Blue herons 








Water Birds 


Black ducks 




Mallard ducks 


Grebes 




Wood ducks 


Loons 







Being located on the line between Labrador and 
the South, and having ample resting and feeding 
places in the lakes, we are annually visited by 
migrating birds. When a storm is approaching 
from the northeast myriads of gulls retreat in- 
land and our lakes are made lively by these play- 
ful habitants of the deep. The list of birds which 
we can claim only as transient \dsitors in addition 
to gulls and terns, would include : 



Blue wing teal 

Brant 

Coots 

Cormorants (shags) 

Gadwalls (gray duck) 

Geese 

Golden eye (whistlers) 

Green wing teal 



Mergansers 

Pintail 

Red head ducks 

Shelldrakes 

South Southerlys 

Squaws) 
Spoonbills 
Widgeon 



(Old 



8 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

Crows, blue jays, juncos, meadow larks, quails, 
ruffed grouse, chickadees, woodpeckers, bald 
eagles, tree sparrows and occasional robins are 
year around birds. 

The town is noted for its growth of lumber, 
soft pine, cedar and oak being staple products 
down to the 20th century, and it is evident this 
growth must have been gigantic before its settle- 
ment. In digging ditches in the process of bog 
construction charcoal has been found imbedded 
three feet below the surface, indicating the growth 
of timber and also the prevalence of forest fires 
in pre-historic times. In point of commercial 
value the oak takes third place being preceded 
only by white pine and cedar. South Meadow 
cedar swamp comprising about one thousand 
acres ; Doty 's swamp, New Meadows swamp and 
other smaller patches were dense with a virgin 
growth in memory of those now living, while many 
acres of original growth of white pine has been 
cut in the memory of the present generation. The 
early records mention large whitewood trees, but 
this species, if it has prevailed in the past, has 
become extinct. The following species have been 
and are now thriving: 

White pine, cedar, oaks, pitch pine, maples, hem- 
lock, white birch, black birch, hornbeam, poplar, 
cherry, locust, sassafras, elm, willow and beech. 

The attractions of nature are perpetual. No 
snow so deep that the pines and cedars do not 
wave their green branches above it; no winter 
so bleak as to hide the beauties of the holly, the 
laurels and winterberries. The scrub-oak hills of 



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H S 

o 



NATURAL CONDITIONS 



sand are famous for trailing arbutus that appears 
even before the snow has left the valleys, and in 
no clime or soil do the water lilies, sabbatias, 
goldenrods and asters reach a more perfect state 
of development. In the season the swamps are 
fragrant with the blossoms of the honeysuckle and 
sweet pepper bush, and the variegated autumn 
leaves clothe the driveways and hills with in- 
describable beauty. 

That this town has its share of the decorations 
that give inspiration to country scenery, the fol- 
lowing list, still incomplete, may testify : 



White 



Alder (smooth) 

Arrowhead (sagittaria) 

Arrow woods 

Asters 

Baneberry 

Bayberry 

Bearberry (mountain 
cranberry) 

Beech plum 

Black alder (winterberry) 

Blackberry 

Black huckleberry 

Blueberry 

Bunchberry 

Button bush 

Cat brier 

Checkerberry (winter- 
green) 

Choke berry 

Cinquefoil 

Clover 



Creeping snowberry 
Dangleberry 
Dodder 
Elderberry 
Evening lychris 
False Solomon's seal 
False spikenard 
Floating heart 
Gall of the earth 
Gold thread 
Goldenrod 
Holly 

Indian pipe 
Inkberry 
Lady's tobacco 
Lady's tresses 
Leather leaf 
Mayweed 
Meadow rue 
Meadow sweet 
Mountain holly 



10 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Mountain laurel 

Night flowering catch fly 

Ox-eyed daisy 

Partridge vine 

Pearl everlasting 

Plantain 

Queen Anne's lace 

Rattlesnake plantain 

Rattlesnake root 

Shad bush (wild pear) 

Shinleaf 

Snapwood 

Spotted wintergreen 

Star flower 

Swamp honeysuckle 

(azalia) 
Swamp huckleberry 
Sweet everlasting 
Sweet fern 



Sweet gale 

Sweet pepper bush 

Thoroughwort 

Trillium (painted) 

Turtle head 

Viburnum 

Virgin's bower 

Water cress 

Water lily 

White fringed orchis 

White violet 

Wild lily of the valley 

Wild sarsaparilla 

Wild strawberry 

Wind flower (anemone) 

Wintergreen (pipsissiwa) 

Withwood 

Yarrow 



Yellow 



Bellwort 

Black eyed Susan 
Butter and Eggs 
Buttercup 
Cinquefoil 

Common St. John's wort 
Cynthia (dwarf dande- 
lion) 
Dandelion 
Fall Dandelion 
Evening primrose 
Gerardia 
Golden aster 
Golden ragwort 
Goldenrod 



Hawk weed 

Hedge hyssop 

Horned bladderwort 

Indian cucumberroot 

Jewel weed 

Loose strife 

Marsh marigold 

Moth mullein 

Mullein 

Mustard 

Poverty grass 

Purslane 

Stick tight 

Sundrop 

Tansy 



NATUEAL CONDITIONS 



11 



Toad flax 
Wild indigo 
"Wild parsnip 
Wild sunflower 
Wild yellow wood sorrel 
(oxalis) 



Witch hazel 
Yellow clover 
Yellow eyed grass 
Yellow pond lily 
Yellow Star grass 



Amphibeous knot weed 

Arbutus 

Arethusia 

Bouncing Bet 

Burdock 

Bush clover 

Calopogon 

Clover 

Common milkweed 

Cranberry 

Dogbane 

Fireweed 

Hog peanut 

Joe-pye-weed 

Knotweed (polyganella) 

Lions heart 

Marsh St. Johnswort 

Meadow Beauty 

Milkwort 



Pinh 

Moccasin flower 

Motherwort 

Musk Mallow 

Coreopsis 

Fleabane 

Pogonia 

Purple geradia 

Khodora 

Round leaved mallow 

Sabbatia (sea pink) 

Sheep laurel 

Steeple bush 

Sundew 

Sweet briar rose 

Swamp loose strife 

Tick trefoil 

Wild rose 

Yarrow 



Aster 

Bird-foot violet 

Blue curls 

Blue eyed grass 

Bluets 

Blue flag (Iris) 



Blue or Purple 

Blue toad flax 

Blue Vervain (verbena) 

Catnip 

Common speedwell 

Cow vetch 

Common violet 



12 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Gill-over-the-ground 
Indian tobacco 
Iron weed 
Lobelia (water) 
Lupine 

Mad dog's skull cap 
Meadow violet 
Pennyroyal 



Peppermint 
Pickerel weed 
Robin's plantain 
Self heal 
Sheep's bit 
Spider wort 
Thistle 
Venus' looking srlass 



Red 



Cardinal flower 
Pitcher plant 



Wood lily 



Green or Greenish White 



Cow wheat 

Dock 

Grape (wild) 

Horse radish 

Poison sumach 

Weeds : 

Carpet weed 
Chick weed 
Ground cherry 
Goosefoot 
Pig weed 
Pin weed 



Poison ivy 
Staghorn 
Virginia creeper 

bine) 

Pipewort 

Sandwort 

Trumble weed 

Velvet weed 
Wild pepper grass 



( wood- 



Butterfly weed 
Cypress spurge 
Cat-tail 
Ground nut 
Hoary pea 
Jack-in-the-pulpit 
Lousewort 



Miscellaneo'us 

Liveforever 

Rabbits foot clover 

Scouring rush 

Sweet flag 

Skunk cabbage 

South Sea water bubble 

Trumpet honeysuckle 



INDIANS 

Unfortunately our main source of knowledge of 
our predecessors on this soil is founded on tra- 
dition, which is often a libelous story, for the 
human mind is not apt to minimize an event that 
struck terror to its infant conceptions. No 
voice of the Pawtuxets comes down to us in litera- 
ture, none of their architecture stands as a monu- 
ment to their art, yet we have many silent re- 
minders of their handiwork. A walk around the 
shores of our lakes, or across some newly plowed 
field, is frequently rewarded by some arrow head, 
pestle or war club upturned from its resting place. 
Thousands of these mementos are scattered 
through our homes and too often perhaps not fully 
appreciated for these are the only tokens that link 
our civilization with the lives of the children of 
nature that once inhabited this region. 

And wlien we read of the cruelties of the Indians 
it is well to remember that this is the white man's 
story. The red man is silent. And lest we be 
unduly impressed with our own case we may recall 
that in 1698 the white man placed a bounty of 
fifty pounds on the scalp of an adult Indian and 
ten pounds on the scalp of a child under ten. 
Five years later the sport of hunting and scalp- 
ing children was abolished, while the practice of 
capturing them alive and selling them as slaves 

13 



14 HISTORY OF CARVER 

was substituted. Thus was the process of ex- 
terminating an inferior race turned to a source 
of profit to its superiors. 

There were no Indians permanently located in 
the limits of the future town of Carver in 1620 
or thereafter although roving bands strolled 
through the region occasionally. This rendered 
settlements hazardous and one Ephraim Tinkham 
who had squatted near Lakenham in 1650 was 
warned that unless he returned within the danger 
line he could expect no protection from the 
Colony. 

After the close of King Philip's war Indians 
who settled here, with certain exceptions, enjoyed 
the rights conferred upon the whites, and their 
rights were looked after by Commissioners ap- 
pointed by the Governor. In 1702-03 the town of 
Plymouth voted a grant of land to Samuel 
Sonnett, an Indian, and his wife, Dorothy. This 
land, forming the basis of the Indian lands in 
Carver, was located on the southerly side of 
Sampson's pond, and bounds and measurements 
not being definite, it must have included consid- 
erably more than the area named, for it took in all 
the land between the Casey swamp and the pond, 
and extended from the Indian lot, so-called, to 
Sampson's brook. The bounds were more 
definitely established two years later by Surveyor 
"William Shurtleff. The only incumbrance was 
the general law providing that land of Indians 
should not be sold without a permit from the 
General Court. Under the conditions of the vote 
the grantee and his heirs were guaranteed the 



INDIANS 15 

right to fish in the ponds and streams and to 
gather tar and turpentine on the common lands. 
The Seipets appear in town a few years later, 
possibly marrying into the Sonnett family. 
Bartlett Murdock, who had inherited the farm on 
the east side of the pond, employed one of these 
Seipet boys, who seems to have been endowed with 
the traditional cunning of his race. Among the 
anecdotes that illustrate the character of the boy is 
one that concerns the time when the South Meet- 
ing house was erected. The building had been 
framed and raised, when Murdock was horrified 
one early morning on beholding his Indian boy 
climbing carelessly over the skeleton. Ascending 
to the plate by the ladder, he walked up one of 
the outside rafters, thence the entire length of 
the ridge-pole, and down another rafter to the 
plate, from which he skipped nimbly to the 
ground. On another occasion young Seipet was 
sent out on an early morning to bring in a yoke 
of oxen for the day's work. His return was not 
expected promptly, for cattle ran at large and 
often strayed a long ways from the clearing ; but 
not returning late in the afternoon, Murdock be- 
came alarmed and started out on horseback to 
learn the fate of his trusted employee. After 
covering a long distance he met Seipet returning 
with his cattle and with a good excuse for his 
tardiness. He had traced the oxen as far as 
Cranebrook pond, a distance of five miles, and as 
the ground was crossed and counter-crossed by 
cattle tracks, the master asked how he had fol- 
lowed the track, for in Murdock 's eye there was 



16 HISTORY OF CARVER 

no difference between the tracks of his own oxen 
and those of his neighbors. Seipet expressed sur- 
prise at the ignorance of his employer, as he 
replied : ^ ' You think Seipet not know his own ox 
tracks?" 

In 1780 this land was owned solely by the 
Seipets, and the Plymouth County Commissioners 
were authorized to sell as much of it as was 
necessary to pay the debts and give a comfortable 
support to Desire Seipet in her old age. 
The sale, effected in 1783, transferred a large 
part of the tract, and that on which the 
village of South Carver now stands, to Lieut. 
Thomas Drew. In 1810 Launa Seipet, also 
an aged woman, resided on the reservation. 
By special act of the General Court she was 
placed in the care of tbe Selectmen of Carver, 
and for her support another section of the Son- 
nett land was sold to Benjamin Ellis, This sale 
included what was left of the Indian land north 
of Bodfish Bridge road. It would appear that 
she was the last survivor of the family, and re- 
siding with her were two daughters, Betsey and 
Hannah. Betsey married, but died childless. 
Hannah married Augustus Casey, with whom she 
lived on the old clearing, where were born and 
reared Frank, Thomas, William, John, Joseph 
Young, Augustus Green, Hannah (married 
Turner), Betsey (married Phillips), and Sarah 
(married Jackson). Joseph and Thomas en- 
listed and saw service in the navy in the Civil war. 

For the aid of some of the Casey heirs other 
tracts have been sold from the Sonnett land, until 



INDIANS 17 

about forty acres remain, and that now known 
as ''The Casey Place," 

On the name our predecessors gave this region 
we can only speculate, for students and inter- 
preters of Indian language ditfer. By one it is 
given as Warkinguag; by another as Mahootset. 

While we have a few Indian monuments in the 
way of landmarks, their meaning is veiled in 
mystery, and our efforts towards an interpreta- 
tion of them leaves us still unrewarded regarding 
the individual experiences of the red men who 
tilled these grounds before us. Weweantic is in- 
terpreted as a wandering stream; Winatuxett, 
the new found meadows; Quitiquas, the island 
place; Annasnapet, the small shell brook; Swan 
Hold, possibly a corruption of Sowhanohke, 
meaning the South land; Polypody, a place of 
brakes; Mahutchett, the place on the trail. 

There are also many other names suggestive 
of history or mythology. King Philip's spring 
comes down to us with a bloody pedigree; the 
Pokanet field sings the fame of Pokanet, who 
prospered as the slave of the Shurtleffs, and 
whose camp was near the river in the field that 
now bears his name; Wigwam swamp; Indian 
burying ground; Indian brook, and Sampson's 
pond are suggestive names. 



THE FIRST SPECULATORS 

To comprehend the ground work of our present 
structure it is necessary to go back to the begin- 
ning and note through what various processes our 
ancestors came into possession of their land. The 
authority of the body that granted it is not in 
question, and who owned it previous to the white 
man's assumption has no place in the calculation. 
And so in our own language our history begins 
in the year 1620. 

The first land system of the Colonists consisted 
in parceling out the land at the opening of the 
season, but this method so soon gave rise to dis- 
satisfaction that in 1624 permanent grants began 
to be made, and as the Colony grew the home- 
seekers began to branch out into the wilderness. 
While the town of Plymouth was never formally 
incorporated, its corporate life dates from 1636, 
and the region now within the limits of the town 
of Carver, being in the jurisdiction of the Pil- 
grim town, all land grants of this territory were 
made by the town of Plymouth. 

Connecting the Indian village of Pawtuxet with 
Agawam and Nemasket were the two trails, Aga- 
wam path and Nemasket path. The former lead- 
ing over barren hills offered no attractions to the 
home-seekers, but the latter leading through 
fertile valleys, over running brooks and waving 

19 



20 HISTORY OF CARVER 

meadows, early caught the eye of the hardy souls 
that were crowded out of the settlement. Begin- 
ning in 1637 and ending with the incorporation of 
the town of Plympton, all of the land now in 
Plympton and Carver was granted by the mother 
town. 

The marsh meadows were the chief attraction, 
and many of the grants were of the meadows 
alone, the grantees holding their residences in 
Plymouth. These grants were located at South 
Meadows,* Doty's meadows, Six-Mile brook, 
Mahutchett, Swan Hold, Beaver Dam brook, 
and Crane brook. By the end of the period sev- 
eral settlements had been made. 

The fir^t to take the Nemasket path was John 
Derby, who in 1637 took up a claim of sixty acres 
at Mounts hill, near the little lake that later be- 
came known as Derby pond. The following year 
he was joined by Thurston Clark, Edward Doty 
and George Moore, while Stephen Hopkins went 
still further into the woods and took a grant at 
Six-Mile brook. It is probable that this grant of 
Doty's was the first grant of land within the 
municipal limits of Carver, although the grant of 
one hundred and fifty acres in 1637-38 to John 
Jenney on either side of the brook was the germ 
of this town in the woods. By the terms of this 



*The term South Meadows originally included all of the 

meadow land on the Weweantic river from Swan Holt to Rochester, 

the lower meadows being referred to as the Lower South 

Meadows. The name was afterwards applied to the village of 

Centre Carver, which was known by no other name up to the time 

of the Civil war. 
/ 



THE FIRST SPECULATORS 21 

g-rant it was constituted a farm within the juris- 
diction of Plymouth and to be known as Laken- 
ham. 

The bounds of Plymouth were not definitely 
located until after the end of this period. A court 
order of 1640 adjusting the bounds between 
Plymouth and Sandwich provided that "the 
bounds should extend so far up into the woodland 
as to include the South Meadows towards 
Agawam, lately discovered, and the convenient 
upland thereto." For many years the western 
bounds were in dispute, and various conferences 
with the Proprietors of South Purchase were 
necessary before the dividing line was definitely 
established. 

Nor were the individual grants definitely lo- 
cated and described. The records are evidence 
of the fact that many of the grants included a 
much larger area than their terms would indicate, 
and also of the frequent disputes among individ- 
ual grantees over ranges. In the latter part of 
the period town surveyors were annually elected, 
who were kept busy making surveys of earlier 
grants and placing their surveys on record. 

It would be difficult to resurvey some of these 
grants from the recorded descriptions. The heap 
of stones and the red oak tree have long since 
passed from the stage, but out of these humble 
I)eginnings has grown our more exact method, 
and petty disputes, though not unknown, are not 
as frequent as of old. 

The main grants before the year 1640, in addi- 
tion to those previously mentioned, were to John 



22 HISTORY OF CARVEE 

Pratt, at Wenham; Bridget Fuller, at Doty's; 
John Barnes, at Six-Mile brook (including up- 
land) ; John Dunham, at Swan Hold (including 
upland) ; Eichard Sparrow and John Atwood, at 
Lakenham ; and Goodman Watson, George Bonum 
and Andrew Ring, at South Meadows. 

During the succeeding forty years grants of 
various dimensions were made along the South 
Meadow river to Andrew Ring, Abraham Jack- 
son, Jonathan Shaw, "William Nelson, George 
Bonum, Ephraim Tinkham, Lieut. Morton, 
William Harlow, Nathaniel Morton, Hugh Cole^ 
Joseph Bartlett, John Cole, Daniel Dunham, 
John Fflallowel, Samuel Doty, John Lucas, John 
Jourdan, John Waterman, John Barrows, Na- 
thaniel Wood, William Ring, Jonathan Barnes, 
Benony Lucas, Samuel Harlow, Richard Cooper, 
Ephraim Tillson, Thomas Pope and George Wat- 
son; at Lakenham to John Rickard, James Cole, 
Jonathan Shaw, Robert Ransom, George Watson, 
Daniel Ramsden and Benejah Pratt; at Doty's 
to Thomas Lettuce, John Rickard, Gyles Rickard, 
Jr., and John Pratt; at Mahutchett to Ephraim 
Tillson, William Haskins and Peter Risse; at 
John's pond to Samuel Savery; at Beaver Dam 
brook to George Watson ; and at Wenham to John 
Dunham. 

By the dawn of the 18th century the pioneers 
had a well established system of farms; grants 
were enlarged to take in nearly all of the upland, 
and the tide of population set in. 

Before 1705 grants at Swan Hold were made 
to Joseph Dunham, John Pratt, Nathaniel Dun- 



THE FIRST SPECULATORS 23 

ham, Micager Dunham, Benejah Pratt, Jeduthen 
Eobbins, Eleazer Pratt, Joseph Pratt, Joseph 
Dunham, Sr,, and Abial Shurtleff. These grantees 
were also given authority to construct a dam 
for flowing their meadows. Small tracts were 
granted at Popes Point to Joseph Churchill, 
George Morton and Edmund Tillson, while land 
formerly of George Watson was better described 
for the benefit of his grandson, Jonathan Shaw. 
Land that had been .granted to Abraham Jackson, 
William Harlow and George Morton in New 
Meadows in 1698 was also more definitely de- 
scribed. 

As these years mark the end of the individual 
grants by the town of Plymouth, and the grantees 
had reached the point where they would break 
away from the parent town of the Old Colony, 
it is well to note how their destinies were swayed 
by two important events of the first century. The 
first settlers of Plymouth were kept within a lim- 
ited area on account of marauding bands of In- 
dians, but after the spirit of the natives had been 
broken by the disastrous ending of King Philip 's 
war, the drawback from that source was ended. 
And a few years later when the dethronement of 
James II. disposed of their twin enemy, Sir 
Edmond Andros, the Colonists rapidly increased 
under their new charter, meeting-houses sprung 
up in the forests, and New England entered en- 
thusiastically upon its remarkable career. It is 
also well to remember in considering these twin 
enemies of the early colonists, that the white man 
and the red man broke even. 



24 HISTORY OF CARVER 

The indivadual grants, mostly of which have 
been named, with two general grants made before 
Plympton was incorporated, left the new town 
without any common land in its jurisdiction. The 
proprietors of the cedar swamp, as also the pro- 
prietors of the rest of the common land, hence- 
forth had jurisdiction in the division of these 
lands. A large portion of this common tract was 
located in the future town of Carver, consisting 
of the cedar swamp and the land south of it as 
far west as the easterly shore of Sampson's pond. 
It included about one-fourth of the modern town's 
area. 

At a town meeting in Plymouth in 1701-02 an 
ordinance was passed dividing the cedar swamp,* 
and Jacob Thompson was chosen surveyor to 
make the division with John Bradford and Samuel 
Sturtevant as assistants. Under the provisions 
of the ordinance every freeholder was to have a 
share; every male child born in the town who 
had reached the age of twenty-one and who re- 
sided in town one-half of a share; any resident 
who succeeded an original proprietor, one share, 
unless said proprietor left a son ; children to in- 
herit a share if the father was entitled to one; 
but under no conditions should anyone hold more 
than one share. Non-residents, except children 
as above noted, were prohibited from holding 

*This vote included all of the cedar swamp in the town of 
Plymouth, which at that time embraced the future towns of 
Plympton, Halifax and Carver. Only the South Meadow and 
Doty swamps were in the future Carver, which accounts for the 
omission of Great Lots 19, 20 and 21 in this story. 




A CORNER ON HEMLOCK ISLAND 



THE FIRST SPECULATORS 25 

shares unless being the owner of at least one hun- 
dred acres of tillage land occupied by a tenant. 

As this tract had so long been utilized as 
common property, this vote to end the custom 
provoked a contest that could not be avoided 
by a town vote. Committees were named 
to watch poachers; any proprietor convicted 
of cutting cedars pending the division for- 
feited his claim; and any poacher not being 
a proprietor was to pay a fine of twenty 
shillings for each tree. While the plan looked 
well on paper, the surveyor was in a sea of con- 
stant commotion. Some lots were better located 
than others ; some had a superior growth ; every 
proprietor had a choice ; and it was several years 
before the division was made among the proprie- 
tors, while the disputes had not ended two cen- 
turies later. 

Under the Thompson plan the swamp was di- 
vided into eighteen Great Lots, and these Great 
Lots subdivided in the process of division among 
the proprietors. Great Lots were intended to 
contain forty acres each, but they were not 
symmetrical in shape. Some began at a common 
point and extended in long triangles across the 
swamp; some were generally rectangular, and 
others cannot be described in geometrical terms. 
It would seem to a modern engineer that the 
swamp could have been divided with more regu- 
larity, but the ragged general form of the tract 
without including upland presented a problem 
that taxed the civil engineering of the times. 



26 HISTORY OF CARVER 

There was still a greater disparity in the shape 
and size of the subdivisions. It is apparent that 
the surveyor placed a broad interpretation on the 
terms of his instructions and undertook to 
equalize the disparity in values by varying the 
size and form of the lots. 

In 1828 Sylvanus Bourne resurveyed the swamp 
and pointed out inconsistencies in the Thompson 
plan, and filed a plan of his own. Modern sur- 
veyors consult both plans as a basis of surveys. 

Doty's Cedar Swamp, situate in the Northerly 
section of the town, also came under the general 
grant, although independent of the large swamp. 
This was known as Great Lot No. 22 in the di- 
vision. The original owners were John Gray, 
John Holmes, Samuel Rickard and Josiah 
Rickard. 

At a town meeting in Plymouth, February 9, 
1701-02, the following ordinance was adopted : 

''That every freeholder That hath ben soe for 
six years last past That hath not had 30 ackers of 
land Granted to them by the Inhabitants of the 
Town within 20 years last past shall have 30 
acrees of land laid forth to them out of the Com- 
mons belonging to sd Town (by the persons here- 
after Named that are the Towns Committy or 
Trustees to act in ye Affare) or soe much land as 
to Make it up 30 acrees with what they have al- 
ready had Granted to them sience sd Tirme of 
years & its further voted That all Town born 
Children now Inhabitants in sd Town that have 
been Rated towards defray publick Charg in sd 
Town for 14 years last past shall have 30 acres 




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THE FIRST SPECULATORS 27 

apece of land laid out to them out of sd Town 
Comons as abovesd & that None shall Take np 
aney Meadow ground or sedor swamps by vertue 
of this Grant and it further voted that every man 
May take up his share abovesd as ner to his own 
land as may be: and noe man shall take up sd 
land agnst an other mans Land until the owner 
of sd land doth Eefuseth it & if two men doe pitch 
on one pece of land the Committy have hereby 
power to determine whose it shall be." 

The Committee chosen at the meeting to effect 
the division was composed of Capt. John Brad- 
ford, Capt. James Warren, Left. Shurtlef, Left. 
Nath; Southworth, Insign: Nath: Morton and 
Samuel Sturtivant. 

Before the town committee had progressed far 
with the division, the town of Plympton was in- 
corporated and the common lands located in the 
two towns passed to the control of the Proprie- 
tors, two hundred and one, who organized by the 
choice of a clerk and adopted the style of The 
Proprietors of Plymouth and Plympton Com- 
mons. Thomas Faunce was the first clerk, and 
those who served in that position before the Pro- 
prietors' work was finished in 1790 were Samuel 
Bartlett, John Cotton and Rossiter Cotton. 

At a general meeting of the proprietors, Capt. 
Warren, Benjamin Warren, Lieut. Shurtleff and 
Samuel Lucas were chosen as surveyors to make 
the division. The tract was located in the Eastern 
section of the present town of Carver and the 
Southern section of Plymouth. Under the plan 
of operations as devised by the surveyors it was 



28 HISTORY OF CARVER 

first divided into ten Great Lots, and these sub- 
divided. The first Great Lot was cut up into 21 
small parcels, the second into 22, the third into 22, 
the fourth into 21, the fifth into 20, the sixth into 
20, the seventh into 19, the eighth into 18, the ninth 
into 18, and the tenth into 20. These total 201 
parcels to be divided among the proprietors. 

The next step in the division was to assign the 
freeholders to the several Great Lots. This was 
no small task, as each proprietor had a choice of 
position. And after the Great Lots had been as- 
signed to the individual owners the question of 
alloting the parcels to the individuals was taken 
up for solution, and another perplexing problem 
faced the surveyors. The proprietors of each 
Great Lot held meetings by themselves to draw 
for their parcels. The subdivisions were num- 
bered and each proprietor drew a number which 
in theory was to be the number of his lot. The 
drawings were not altogether satisfactory, and 
time was extended for the proprietors to trade, 
and it was upwards of eighty years before the 
work of the proprietors was finished. 

The first Great line was described as follows : 
*' Beginning at two pine trees marked numbered 
1-2 standing at ye going over between ye Great 
West pond and a little pond at ye head of it 
rainging East South East 180 rods from two pine 
trees marked with a heap of stones between them 
at Cobb hill by South Meadow path and from the 
trees first mentioned the line extendeth South 
15 Westerly by a rainge of trees to a maple tree 
marked numbered 1-2 standing at Pratts meadow 



THE FIRST SPECULATORS 29 

and from tlience the same course to ye town line 
thence beginning at the trees first numbered the 
line extends North 15 Easterly so far as to take 
in all the common land belonging to the Proprie- 
tors and all ye common lands lying to the west- 
ward of sd line to belong to ye first lot there being 
twenty one shares in the lot." 
. This was the line between the first and second 
Great Lots, the first lot comprising all of the com- 
mon land west of the line. The western line of 
the first great lot was naturally irregular ac- 
cording to the ranges of former grants. The pre- 
vious grants bordering the first lot on the west 
were those at South Meadows, George Barrows, 
Sampson's pond, and the land of Samuel Sonnett. 
The final owners of the first division of the first 
great lot were Samuel Lucas, Caleb Loring, Elisha 
Bradford, Thomas Holmes, William Harlow, John 
Andros, Benj. Eaton, Sr., Mr. John Rickard, 
Eleazer Pratt, Nathaniel Harlow, Nathaniel 
Jackson, John Pratt, Mecager Dunham, John 
Jackson, Nathaniel Dunham, Joshua Ransom, 
Elkaneth Cushman, John Carnes, John Bryant, 
Left. William Shurtleff and Mr. John Murdock. 

The second lot fell to (?), Isaac King, Joseph 
King, Ephraim Cole, Ebenezer Eaton, Samuel 
Bryant, John Sturtevant, Samuel Rickard, Jo- 
seph Bradford, Nathaniel Howland, Joshua 
Pratt's children, Giles Rickard, John Curtice, 
Elisha Cobb, John Doty, Richard Everson, Adam 
Write, John Wood, James Cole, Daniel Dunham, 
George Barrows and Samuel Wing. 







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A FEW EARLY LAWS 

It is not the purpose of this work to deal in 
general history, but there are some timbers in 
the general structure so closely related to local 
development that a brief review is justifiable. 

Our starting point in civil government was in 
the compact signed on board of the Mayflower 
in Provincetown harbor. In the wave of en- 
thusiasm in which the Pilgrims left their native 
country they made no calculation on the cost of 
the venture, but before landing they adjudged it 
prudent to make an agreement as a safeguard 
against a clashing of authority that might jeop- 
ardize the peace of the Colony, and on the wisdom 
of such a course their posterity has recorded the 
verdict ''they builded better than they knew." 
And in our own day these words may be accepted 
as the basis of all just governments : * ' In ye name 
of God amen. We whose names are under-writ- 
ten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne 
Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great 
Britaine, Franc, Ireland king, defender of ye 
faith, &c., haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of 
God and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and 
honor of our king and countrie, a voyage to plant 
ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, 
doe by these presents solemnly and mutualy in ye 
presence of God, and one of another, covenant and 
combine our selves togeather into a civill body 

31 



32 HISTORY OF CARVER 

politick, for our better ordering and preservation 
and furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by 
virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such 
just and equall laws, ordinances, acts, constitu- 
tions, and officers, from time to time, as shall be 
thought most meete and convenient for ye generall 
good of ye colonic, unto which we promise all due 
submission and obedience." Such was the con- 
stitution of the Plymouth Colony, and on this 
basis was made the laws that governed our ances- 
tors until the union of the colonies in 1690. The 
leading town officers under the compact were 
selectmen or townsmen, a town clerk, constables^ 
raters, jurjmien, tithingmen and surveyors. 

Much of the land of the future towns of Plymp- 
ton and Carver was granted under the Old Colony 
although but little of it was occupied. A few 
scattering farms dotted the tract, and respectable 
clusters of residences appear at Colchester, 
Lakenham and Wenham, but the residents were 
all freeholders of the old town whence they 
journeyed on town meeting days, holidays, court 
days and sabbaths. It is not probable that any 
thought of establishing a new town had its incep- 
tion before the union. 

The charter of William and Mary was granted 
as a basis for the government of the united New 
England colonies, and as this charter was the 
foundation for all laws preceding the constitution 
of the United States, it is a document worthy of 
consideration. 

In considering the charter no comparison should 
be made with modern theories, but in comparison 




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A FEW EARLY LAWS 33 

with contemporary governments it will be found 
to be liberal. And when we notice that liberty of 
conscience was guaranteed to all sects except 
Papists, we may compare it with the chronological 
edicts of Louis XIV. ; and perhaps our judgment 
would be tempered by recalling that the charter 
was granted by a king and queen who had just 
ascended the throne through a revolution and the 
passions engendered had not abated. Even at 
that moment the exiled Stuart was intriguing to 
worm his way back to the throne from which he 
had been ejected by the uprising of his subjects. 

Under this instrument, the executive authority 
was vested in a Governor and a Lieutenant 
Governor appointed by the crown, advised and 
assisted by twenty-eight councillors or assistants. 

The law making power was vested in the Gov- 
ernor and Council, and two representatives from 
each town elected by the property holding free- 
holders. To this legislative body was given the 
name of the Great and General Court, and after 
its organization it was vested with authority for 
the annual election of the twenty-eight council- 
lors, also of regulating the number of repre- 
sentatives to which each County, Town or place 
should be entitled. 

Sheriffs, provost marshals, Justices of the 
Peace, Judges of Oyer and Terminer, were ap- 
pointed by the Governor by and with the consent 
of the Council; probate matters, including the 
appointment of executors and administrators, 
were left with the Governor and Council. The 
acts of incorporation of towns and parishes under 



34 HISTORY OF CARVER 

preceding governments, with certain limitations, 
were confirmed, and the adoption of laws govern- 
ing local affairs rested with the General Court. 

Appeals conld be had from the judgments of 
the courts, and also from the decrees of the 
Governor, to the crown. The Governor held the 
power of proroguing the General Court at any 
time, and the Court could not legally adjourn for 
more than two days at a time, without his consent. 
The crown held the veto power over both the 
Governor and the General Court. 

The authority of the Governor to prorogue the 
General Court, and the veto power held by the 
crown, were the cause of no little clashing of 
authority in after years, but under the charter 
the colonies developed rapidly, both in numbers 
and prerogatives, and when they reached 'the 
point of abolishing the veto power the tie that 
held them to the mother country was represented 
by a brittle cord. And even after the rebellious 
colonies had won the right to legislate for them- 
selves, unhampered by any veto power from 
across the sea, they founded their liberties in the 
forms, regulations and theories that had grown 
up under the charter. 

The democratic theory of permitting each 
locality to control its domestic affairs was recog- 
nized by the charter and the adoption of laws 
regulating local affairs was the subject of the 
constant consideration of the General Court. The 
recognition of this theory eventually led to the 
Revolution, for as each colony added to its 
prerogatives it became jealous of outside interfer- 



A FEW EARLY LAWS 35 

ence, and bound together by this theory, they 
combated for the principle in war. 

In November, 1692, before providing for town 
governments, the General Court made provision 
for ministers and school masters, making it com- 
pulsory upon towns to provide themselves with 
*'an able, learned orthodox minister of good con- 
versation to dispense the word of God to them," 
also a school master to ^ ' teach children and youth 
to read and write," both to be supported by a 
town tax. The same month the New England 
town meeting was confirmed, each town being re- 
quired to hold an annual town meeting in the 
month of March for the election of town officers 
and the transaction of town affairs. The neces- 
sary officers consisted of a board of three, five, 
seven or nine selectmen or townsmen, a town 
clerk, constables, surveyors of highways, tithing- 
men, fence viewers, clerk of the market, and a 
sealer of leather. The Selectmen served as over- 
seers of the poor unless a separate board was 
chosen, also as assessors. Their warrant was 
committed to a constable and required him to col- 
lect and pay to the Selectmen or their agent. 

In order to be eligible for a place on the Board 
of Selectmen the candidate must ''be able and 
discreet, of good conversation," and a freeholder 
must have property to the amount of twenty 
pounds to entitle him to vote. The duty of a 
clerk of the market required him to visit, at least 
once a week, the bakeshops to guard against the 
selling of short weight loaves. The price of wheat 
was regulated by the Selectmen, and the size of 



36 HISTORY OF CARVER 

the loaf accordingly. The sealer or searcher of 
leather was a busy officer under compulsion to in- 
spect and seal all leather tanned in his jurisdic- 
tion. 

Towns were authorized to make by-laws regu- 
lating their affairs and subject to the approval of 
the court in quarter sessions ; they must perambu- 
late their town lines once in three years; Select- 
men must see that there were no loafers in town, 
and if any child or other person was found mis- 
spending his time he must be sent to the House 
of Correction there to receive ten lashes on the 
bare back; the Selectmen were vested with 
authority to "bind out" minors; and anyone 
enjoying the hospitality of the town three months 
unquestioned, obtained a settlement. In the case 
of an undesirable citizen the constable ordered the 
person out of town, and in the event of a refusal 
to move, the person was taken by force to the 
place of last abode. 

Every male resident between the age of sixteen 
and sixty, with certain exceptions was forced into 
the militia, and under statute compulsion to attend 
all musters and exercises of his company. All 
persons liable were subject to being called to duty 
in times of danger and they were expected to have 
their equipment ready at all times. The equip- 
ment which every one liable to military duty was 
under compulsion to provide for himself, con- 
sisted of a firelock musket with the barrel not less 
than three and one-half feet in length, a snapsack, 
a colar with twelve bandeleers or cartouch box, 
one pound of good powder, twenty bullets, twelve 



A FEW EAELY LAWS 37 

flints, a sword or cutlass and a worm and prim- 
ing wire. 

Eegimental musters were required once in three 
years, and company musters four days in each 
year, while the Captain of a company must can- 
vass twice a year to see that the regulations were 
complied with. Towns must keep their military 
stores based upon one barrel of powder, two hun- 
dred pounds of bullets and three hundred flints 
for each sixteen persons in town subject to 
military duty. 

A system of alarm for calling out the militia in 
times of sudden danger: three guns called out 
the militia and a penalty awaited anyone who 
neglected to report promptly at the training green 
when the alarm was sounded. As a safeguard 
against oppression no Captain should quarter a 
soldier or seaman on a private resident without 
the resident's consent under penalty; and the 
militia could not be sent out of the Colony with- 
out their consent, or the consent of the General 
Court. 

The lower court was called the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, and made up of at least three of the 
Justice of the Peace for the County. The next 
higher court consisting of all of the Justices of 
the Peace for the County, was known as the Court 
of Quarter Sessions, or Sessions of the Peace. 
Appeals from these courts were to the Superior 
Court of Judicature with jurisdiction over all the 
province and made up of one Chief Justice and 
four associate Justices appointed by the Governor 
and Council. 



38 HISTORY OF CARVER 

The reckless method of granting and staking out 
land — perhaps mainly through the unscientific 
method of surveys — called for legislation. The 
first act for the quieting of possessions provided 
that the possession dating previous to October 19, 
1652, and not questioned before May 20, 1662^ 
should be sufficient title; while three years un- 
questioned possession from October 1, 1692, should 
constitute a sufficient warranty. An exception 
clause gave infants, persons non compos mentis, 
and those in prison or captivity three years extra 
in which to prove a claim; while persons beyond 
the seas had seven years of grace. The privy 
council objected to this act for the reasons that 
the rights of the crown were not protected and 
further that the time of three years was insuf- 
ficient. To meet these objections, the act was 
amended saving the rights of the crown and 
requiring unquestioned possession from October 1 , 
1692, to October 1, 1704, necessary to guarantee 
possession to the holder or those claiming under 
him. 

Statutes were enacted in 1692 and 1693. 

Establishing and guaranteeing trial by jury. 

Establishing weights and measures. 

Eequiring intentions of marriage to be posted 
in some conspicuous place at least two weeks 
before the event. 

Establishing habeas corpus proceedings. 

Establishing 6 per cent, as the legal rate, con- 
tracts calling for a larger rate to be void. 

Establishing post office rules. 

Establishing systems of highway improvements. 



A FEW EARLY LAWS 39 

Thanksgiving custom reaffirmed. 

Hogs running at large to be yoked from April 
1st to October 15th, and ringed all the year. 

Sheep not to run at large unaccompanied by a 
shepherd. 

No strong liquor to be sold or given an Indian. 

Idiots and lunatics must be cared for by the 
Selectmen, 

In these same years : 

There were thirteen crimes punishable by death. 

Laws against witchcraft were adopted. 

The exportation of raw hides was forbidden. 

The cord of marketable wood must be cut in 
four feet lengths, and when piled must be eight 
feet long and four feet high. If a delivery did not 
come up to these regulations, the injured party 
must sue, and in case of conviction the wood was 
forfeited, one-half to the complainant and one-half 
for the use of the town's poor. 

The penalty for one offence compelled the con- 
victed party to sit upon the gallows with a rope 
tied around the neck and the other end thrown 
over the gallows. On the march from the gallows 
to the jail, he should be given not less than forty 
lashes, and forever after he must wear the letter 
A two inches in length cut from cloth of a different 
color than the clothing either on an arm, the back 
or some conspicuous place about the person. Con- 
viction of a neglect in wearing the letter was 
punishable with fifteen lashes. 

Inn holders were licensed, and regulations 
governing them adopted : 

Lodgings and a supply of refreshments must 
be constantly on hand. 



40 HISTORY OF CARVER 

An apprentice, servant or negro should not be 
entertained without an order from his master. 

No one should be permitted to remain in the inn 
above one hour, except travellers. 

No one should be permitted to drink to excess. 

No one admitted Sundays except travellers. 

For any conviction, one-half of the fine went 
to the informant, and one-half to the use of the 
Town's poor. 

Inn holders were required to furnish bonds with 
sureties for the keeping of the regulations. 

And as a further guarantee Selectmen were 
burdened with the duty of seeing that Tythingmen 
were annually elected and qualified. The duty of 
the Tythingman was to inspect the taverns and 
inform on all violations of the laws ; also to inform 
on all idlers, disorderly persons, profane swearers^ 
Sabbath breakers and law breakers in general. 
The legal badge adopted for the Tythingman was 
a black staff two feet in length with a three inch 
brass tip on one end. 

Anyone convicted of receiving stolen goods 
from an Indian, was to restore the goods to the 
rightful owner with an equal amount in value of 
specie, or if the goods had been disposed of, double 
the value in specie. 

This brief resume covers only the starting of 
legislation under the charter, and from these 
beginnings was built up and perfected, by repeals, 
amendments and additions, the social system that 
was in vogue when the Colonies banded themselves 
together for the purpose of moving the veto power 
from London to some point on the American con- 















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A FEW EAKLY LAWS 41 

tinent. If some of these statutes seem imaccount- 
able to lis, perhaps if we compare these laws of 
the pioneers, with some of the legislation which 
we propose to meet modern conditions, and with 
two centuries of experience and education to our 
debit, the comparison, after all may not be very 
damaging to the first dreamers in the world of 
civil liberty. James I. was on the throne of Great 
Britain when the Pilgrims sailed and the following 
monarchs reigned during our colonial life, the 
year named being the time they ascended the 
throne : 

1625 Charles I. 

1648 The Commonwealth, or Oliver Cromwell. 

1660 Charles II. 

1685 James II. 

1689 William and Mary. 

1694 William III. 

1702 Anne. 

1714 George I. 

1727 George II. 

1760 George III. 



THE FIEST SEPARATION 

Isaac Cushman, grand son of Robert the 
Pilgrim, was Plympton's god-father. Thomas, 
son of Robert and father of Isaac, had long been 
the noted Ruling Elder of the Pilgrim church when 
he died in 1691, and Isaac was slated as his 
successor. 

To be a Ruling Elder in the Plymouth church 
was only the second ambition of Isaac Cushman — 
perhaps the third — *and he kicked over the slate. 
Residing in the west end of the town where two 
groups of settlements had begun to flourish, Col- 
chester and Lakenham, Cushman 's heart was with 
his neighbors and eight miles from the old church 
had begotten notions in their heads that the 
proper step under the circumstances would be to 
have a church of their own and to have their 
neighbor and friend for a minister. Such was the 
dream that laid the foundation for the ^' upper 
society. ' ' 

But there were obstacles to overcome before the 
new society could legally have the minister of 
its choice : there were dead branches to lop off 



*In addition to the call of Isaac Cushman to settle over the new 
church, he was wanted as successor to Eev. Mr. Fuller of the First 
Church of Middleboro. But the bond of sympathy between him 
and the residents of the new society could not be broken by the 
more tempting offers from the larger parishes. 

43 



44 HISTORY OF CARVER 

before the tree would relinquish the sprig. Chief 
among these was the church rule, that a man must 
serve the church as Ruling Elder before he could 
be ordained as a minister. Isaac had never served 
in such a capacity, but he declined the offer and 
began his ministry over the new society without 
an ordination. Of course this meant three years 
of agitation in church circles, but Cushman con- 
tinued to preach until the church receded and gave 
him the regular ordination in October, 1698. The 
Precinct was incorporated in November, 1695. 
The fact that Cushman continued in that capacity 
as long as his health would permit, and that he was 
pensioned by his grateful people in his last days, 
is sufficient evidence of his head and heart. 

Thus called together in the duties and services 
of the church, the fellow workers in the woods 
soon conceived the idea of a separate town and in 
less than twelve years the town of Plympton was 
born. The new Precinct included Lakenham, but 
not South Meadows, but when Plympton was in- 
corporated the new town extended over all of the 
territory covered by the future town of Carver. 

The following comprise the voters of Plympton 
for 1708-09: 

Group A* 
Isaac Cushman Ensign Elkanah Cushman 

Thomas Cushman Frances Cook 

Dea. John Waterman * Lieut. John Bryant 



*Group A includes the residents of Plympton, and group B 
those of the future town of Carver. The division may not be 
strictly accurate, but it is fairly correct. 



THE FIRST SEPARATION 



45 



Jonathan Bryant 
John Ever son 
Richardson Everson 
Benjamin Eaton 
John Bryant 
John Bryant 
James Bryant 
Peter West 
Samuel Bryant 
Joseph Phinney 
James Bearce 
Samuel Sturtevant 
Robert Waterman 



Benjamin Curtice 
David Bosworth 
Nehemiah Sturtevant 
Samuel Sturtevant, Jr. 
Ebenezer Standish 
William Sturtevant 
Joseph King 
Peter Thompson 
Job Simmons 
Isaac King 
William Churchill 
Isaac Cushman, Jr. 
George Sampson 



Group B 



Lieut. William Shurtleff 
Edmund Weston 
Joseph King, Jr. 
John Wright 
Adam Wright 
Isaac Sampson 
Benjamin Soule 
Nathaniel Harlow 
Samuel Fuller 
Dea. John Rickard 
Eleazur Rickard 
Josiah Rickard 
John Pratt 
Jeduthen Robbins 
Jabez Eddy 
Henry Rickard 
Edmund Tillson 



John Doten 
Robert Ransom 
Samuel Waterman 
Ephraim Tillson 
John Tillson 
Jonathan Shaw 
Benoni Shaw 
John Cole 
John Carver 
George Bonum 
Benoni Lucas 
John Barrows 
Dea. Nathaniel Wood 
Eleazer King 
Thomas Shurtleff 
Abial Shurtleff 
Caleb Loring 



46 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Regardless of the provisions of its charter, the 
new town stepped immediately into the enjoyment 
of the immunities and the sufferance of the re- 
sponsibilities of a pioneer settlement. Expecting 
to eke their subsistence from the soil, they imme- 
diately declared war on crows and blackbirds, and 
every householder must either produce two of the 
former or six of the latter between March 15th and 
June 15th under penalty of having two shillings 
added to their tax bills. There was hustling 
among the householders to get the quota of ebony 
birds, for coy as the crow is, he was easier to get 
in those early days than two shilling bits. 

Hogs enjoyed the freedom of the town, provided 
they were ringed and yoked according to law, and 
hogreaves were annually chosen to see that the 
law was complied with. 

To guarantee the abstinence from work and play 
on the Sabbath, tythingmen were also chosen and 
sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties. 
The Sunday morning beats of these officials, armed 
with the badge of their authority, rendered it 
injudicious for anyone to trifle with the law. The 
tythingman was not a popular officer, and the 
position not generally desired. The records show 
that these officers seldom succeeded themselves. 

Not the least of the town's perplexing problems 
concerned wildcats, deer, and undesirable citizens. 
The former, because so depredations between 
1720 and 1740 that the war against them was en- 
couraged by a town bounty. Sportsmen spurred 
on perhaps by the necessities of the table, were 
such destroyers of deer that the question was 



THE FIRST SEPARATION 47 

taken up by the town and the law invoked for their 
protection. 

Undesirable citizens were warned out of town 
according to law. In 1711 the Selectmen exercised 
their jurisdiction for the first time, when the board 
issued its warrant to John Coal, requiring him to 
warn Marcy Donham to depart said town. The 
nature of Marcy 's offence does not appear, but 
she evidently did not meet with the approval of 
the town fathers. 

The town in compliance with the statutes, 
started its school system in 1708 through an 
ordnance instructing the Selectmen to employ a 
school master. This was the limit of the town's 
duties in the matter, and after the master had been 
employed, the place for holding the school was left 
with its patrons. Many of the young obtained 
their education in their own homes from books 
provided by themselves, while the master was 
present as a guide and guest. 

Human nature was the same in those days as we 
find it in the dawn of the twentieth century, but 
methods of controlling it have changed. Young 
people were obliged to attend church Sundays 
under penalty of a poke from the tythingman, but 
once in the Meeting House they were young folks 
still and the town occasionally found it necessary 
to choose a committee to occupy seats among them 
in church and watch their conduct, to insure the 
minister an undisturbed opportunity. 

But, the question that furnished the voters with 
their constant agitation, was the continual efforts 
to divide the town. The town of Plympton was 



48 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

not well established as a municipality when an 
unrest manifested itself, and the new town may 
be said to have been ushered into existence with 
a sectional line as a birth mark. The Meeting 
House was the heart of the town, and at the outset 
there were freeholders with so remote a residence 
that they never felt the pulse. From the Plympton 
meeting house to the Wareham line, is upwards 
of twelve miles, and with the travelling facilities 
of the times even the South Precinct found it 
advisable at times to exempt the residents of the 
Tihonet region from the rates on condition that 
the exempted pay their taxes to the Wareham 
authorities. 

Lakenham, and more especially South Meadows, 
early started an agitation for the division of the 
town, that was not ended until the division came 
three-quarters of a century later. These move- 
ments were resisted at first and when they could 
no longer be held back, a compromise was effected 
by the incorporation of the South Precinct. Still 
the agitation continued, and time after time, the 
town voted against ** setting the Precinct off as a 
separate town." In the spirit of compromise 
many town rights were conferred upon the rebel- 
lious Precinct, and when the town was born it 
stepped among its sisters well trained in its duties. 

There appears no striking evil over which the 
Precinct complained, and it is probable that the 
residents of Lakenham stood with the old town 
against division. But the South Precinct em- 
braced the larger part of the territory of Plymp- 
ton and naturally, the South Precinct enjoyed the 




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THE FIRST SEPARATION 49 

larger per cent of the increase in population. And 
as every new settler was in the remote section, 
every new settler added one to the forces of dis- 
content, hence the inevitable could only be post- 
poned. 



EAELY SETTLEES 

It is easy to see, why the struggiing farmers of 
Plymouth placed such a high valuation on the 
fresh meadows, in the days before the cultivation 
of fine top, clover and timothy; equally as plain 
why the luxurious meadows found in the limits of 
the future town of Carver, should receive the name 
of the South Meadows. In the earliest coloniza- 
tion of this region, the grants of land were made 
and the first settlers located in relation to these 
meadows. Thus, in our earliest history, we find 
our pioneers at South Meadows, Lakenham 
(adjacent to Winatuxett Meadows), Mahutchett 
Meadows, Cranebrook Meadows, Doty's Meadows, 
Fresh Meadows and New Meadows. 

There were large landowners — promoters in the 
true sense— among the early settlers. The Shaws, 
Eansoms, Watsons and Coles at Lakenham; the 
Cobbs at Mahutchett; the Eickards and Water- 
mans at Snappit; the Dunhams and Pratts at 
Wenham ; the Shurtleffs, Lucases and Tillsons at 
South Meadows; the Barrows and Murdocks 
around Sampson's pond, and the Atwoods at 
Fresh Meadows. 

The dangers and privations that always follow 
the pioneers of a new country, gave romance to 
the lives of our first settlers. The unsanitary 
state of the country made up of hills and un- 

51 



52 HISTORY OF CARVER 

drained swamps, and the exposures on account of 
insufficient housing, rendered them susceptible to 
disease, while their distance from the doctors of 
the settlements left them to battle for themselves. 

The first houses were located in the valleys, with 
the barns from one hundred to three hundred 
yards away according to drainage. The houses 
were thus located, in order to be near water and 
for a protection against the elements during the 
"Winter months. 

These houses were built under disadvantages 
and consequently of the simplest design. While 
lumber was in abundance, the means of turning it 
to boards were lacking. Furniture, cooking 
utensils, farm implements and wearing apparel 
must be mostly of the home made order, while 
communication with the settlement at Plymouth 
and with neighbors, was carried on through Indian 
trails, which in later years were adopted as the 
highways and improved. And when we consider 
the situation of even the most favored ones, we 
must admire the faith and hardihood of a race 
that suffered and braved so much to make the 
world what it is. 

In the struggle to sustain themselves from the 
land, they faced natural enemies that baffled 
their wits and developed their sporting instincts. 
Crows, blackbirds and red birds dug their corn 
after it had been planted, while wolves, foxes, wild 
cats and other carnivorous animals skulked after 
their fowl. For more than a century, bounties 
were paid for the heads of crows, blackbirds and 
red birds, while wolves and wild cats were ex- 



EARLY SETTLERS 53 

terminated in this manner. Beaver were plentiful 
in the earliest days, but they were exterminated 
on account of the value of their furs. But while 
birds and animals diminished the means of sub- 
sistence, there were counter advantages of no little 
consideration. The ponds teemed with jfish, Samp- 
son 's, Doty's and probably Clear being breeding 
grounds for herring, and this was a large item on 
their bill of fare. The woods were full of deer, 
rabbits and edible birds and this went far towards 
supplying the farmers with meat. The only 
species that diminished under free hunting and 
trapping were deer, and laws to protect them were 
early enacted. Such in brief were the conditions, 
that confronted the farmer settlers in the year 
1700. 

But a wonderful advance was on the slate for 
the new century, little foreseen by the lonely 
farmers who witnessed its dawn and, perhaps, not 
fully appreciated by their descendants who, having 
won their independence, battled with its vexatious 
problems in the century's closing twilight. Still 
wonderful as we now behold it was the century 
that transformed our community from a few scat- 
tered farmers, living upon their crops and warring 
on blackbirds, to a town of social and industrial 
enthusiasm. Saw mills and grist mills, two meet- 
ing houses, three iron manufactories, forges, acres 
of tillage lands, taverns, school houses, stage lines, 
a new precinct and a new town, were the local 
achievements, while in the larger field, we were 
transformed from a group of struggling colonies 
sleeping on their arms in constant fear of Indian 



54 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

massacres and trembling for the next move of the 
monarch three thousand miles away, to a nation of 
independent people with full faith in their ability 
to sustain their rights. And while we contemplate 
the glory of their achievements, it is inspiring to 
review the pleasures and hardships of those lives 
devoted to the cause of human progress. 

Essential to the building of better homes, and 
to the wants of a people who must live from their 
land, were saw mills and grist mills, and to the 
establishment of these the early settlers devoted 
their energies. 

These mills might seem slow in the eyes of the 
fast operators of today, but like their builders, 
they did their work. Their construction was 
simple. A dam to hold a pond for the power was 
the first essential. A low building open on one 
side, with a long, low extension into which pro- 
jected the long log as the saw worked its way 
through, was located on declining ground in order 
for the better handling of the heavy logs. Most 
of the machinery was of wood, and the long saw 
shot up and down at every revolution of the water 
wheel, hence the name — The Up and Down mill. 
Most of these mills were company enterprises, the 
owners dividing the time when each should 
operate it in lieu of the modern method of divid- 
ing the profits. Grist mills were located on the 
same dam, and forges for doing iron work became 
a necessity in every community and they, too, were 
located near the mills. 

In the winter months, these mills became the 
centres of activity and society for the male 




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EARLY SETTLERS 55 

population. Even the millers were not rushed, 
and many stories could be told while the saw was 
plowing its way slowly but surely along and the 
manufacture of boards was a pleasure and a 
process that often entertained the farmer's wife 
and children. 

On a Winter day when the snow precluded any 
other duty, the farmer shouldered his bag of grain 
and started for the mill. He carried no orders to 
hurry back, for his wife attended to the milking, 
while the boys had been trained to do their part. 
There appeared to be no reason why he could not 
properly loaf around the mills and forge all day, 
picking up bits of news and gossip for the amuse- 
ment of his family when he returned. And many 
were the debates around the mills on questions 
that related to their farms, their church, their 
neighborhood, or their rights so nobly conferred 
upon them by the charter of good King William. 
Practical jokes had their place in the exercises of 
the day, and whenever an extra large log must be 
rolled down upon the carriage, there were plenty 
of spare hands to give a lift just for the fun of it. 
And when night ended the fun around the mill, the 
farmer could shoulder his bag of flour — minus the 
toll — and wade home through the snow in the light 
of the rising moon. If the mill happened to be 
too far away, the horse could be utilized as a 
means of transportation. 

Think you, after such a vigorous day with little 
or no food, did the supper steaming on the crane or 
simmering in the coals, tempt the farmer to 
exclaim that he lived in the best days the world 



56 HISTORY OF CARVER 

ever knew ? Yet a few years later what an advance 
in the facilities that catered to the wants of the 
people, for in this better day the housewife could 
burn a roaring fire for an hour in a large brick 
oven, rake out the ashes, insert her pot of beans, 
rye bread, pumpkin pies and fowl, and then while 
her cooking was going on she could go about her 
other work, stopping occasionally we may be sure 
to take a peek through the little aperture in the 
oven, to see her pies and beans gradually assum- 
ing their famous brown. 

The girls made their own dolls and doll's cloth- 
ing, and no little pleasure was found in learning to 
do the duties that fell to the lot of women. The 
boys were free to hunt and trap the game. They 
made their own boats and fishing poles, their cross 
bows, carts, sleds and cornstalk fiddles, and they 
told stories at night in the light of the open fire, 
while their older brothers and sisters gathered in 
the larger houses and taverns for social events, 
where the village fiddler sawed into immortal song 
the old ''kitchen spree." 

Another item of hallowed memory in the society 
of the times clustered around the swing. Every 
hamlet had its village swing located in some clump 
of gigantic trees, where on holidays and in the long 
summer twilights, the young gathered for social 
joys and there has always been a suspicion that 
Cupid had a perch in the branches of the same 
old trees. 

Of course there were disadvantages in those 
days, little inconveniences that in souls of fun and 
courage, only served to develop a rugged char- 



EARLY SETTLERS 57 

acter. To get out of bed in an old farm house 
wlien the thermometer outside hovered around 
zero, go shivering down to the kitchen to find that 
the high wind had completely extinguished the 
fire, called into action no little sand and self- 
reliance, for an extinct fire could not easily be re- 
kindled. While the others remained in bed, one 
of the older boys must don his boots, still stiff and 
cold from the baptism of the preceding day, and in 
the face of the biting wind wade across the fields 
through snow that buried the fences, to borrow 
fire from a neighbor. And then to get the coals 
back through the gale with life enough in them to 
start a blaze, was no small test on the boy's in- 
genuity. Such in part was the training of the 
boys who left their beds in darkness to dig the 
trenches at Bunker Hill. 

While Edward Doty*, the hot tempered passen- 
ger of the Mayflower, may have been the first to 
till the soil of Carver, there is not satisfactory 
evidence that he resided on his possessions, and 
to Jonathan Shaw falls the honor of being the first 
permanent resident of the territory embraced in 
the present municipal limits of the town. Shaw 
had a house at Lakenham as early as 1660, and 
John Pratt, who had a residence south of Doty's 
pond in 1675, was a close second. The exact site 
of these houses may not go unquestioned, but there 



*E(lward Doty's farm was the land now owned and occupied by 
Finney Brothers. Thus the names was given to Doty's cedar 
swamp and Doty's pond, which later acquired the name of 
Wenham pond. 



58 HISTORY OF CARVER 

are reasons for stating that Shaw's house stood 
on the site of the present Sturtevant house south 
of the Green. The present house was built as 
early as 1750 (possibly earlier), and a tradition 
says it was the third house built on that site. The 
Pratt house probably stood on the site of the pres- 
ent residence of AUerton L. Shurtleff. 

Early neighbors of Shaw and Pratt were John 
Dunham at Wenham, Benony Lucas at South 
Meadows and John Benson at Fresh Meadows. 
At that time the main traveled road from Ply- 
mouth to Middleboro, led through Annasnapet and 
Parting Ways, this road being referred to by old 
residents as ''the old way" as late as the last of 
the last century. The road through Darby was in 
use, however, at the same time. Shaw's residence 
stood about midway between Plymouth and 
Middleboro, Mahutchett was a mile to the south- 
west, Popes Point two miles to the south and 
South Meadows three miles to the southeast. 

Among those who joined the Lakenham settle- 
ment by the year 1700 or soon after were the 
Bonums, Watsons, Kings, Eobbins, Watermans, 
Eickards, Wrights and Eansoms. There was a 
boom in the settlement of this region at the time 
through the division of the common lands. The 
Shaws and Watsons held possessions in the west 
section where their descendants settled. Watson 
held land on Eocky Meadow brook, and Thomas 
Pope owning a grant at the junction of this brook 
with South Meadow river, gave the name of Popes 
Point to the land, which later became the local 
name of the village that grew up around the 
furnace. 



r 





\} 



EAKLY SETTLERS 59 

The Eickards and Watermans located at Anna- 
snapet; the Kansoms owned the large tract be- 
tween the Doty farm and Lakenham brook; and 
the Pratts and Crookers the tract between Ply- 
mouth street and Wenham road. 

While the earlier settlers of Lakenham patron- 
ized the mills at Plympton, the settlers of this 
region soon had such facilities of their own and 
mills were in operation at Lakenham, South 
Meadows and probably Wenham. The industrial 
activities of the people were confined to agricul- 
tural pursuits until the decade 1730-40, when the 
Popes Point furnace was established and a re- 
markable impetus given to the social and indus- 
trial life of this region. The building of the first 
iron furnace, the first meeting house and the 
establishment of the first three school districts, 
marks this decade as a memorable one in the 
development of the settlement. 

The Shermans joined the Precinct before the 
Eevolution, purchasing a large tract from the 
Eansoms. John Sherman conducted a tavern on 
the site of the residence of James S. McKay*. 

Fresh Meadows was a thriving village before 
the Eevolution. Fifty years after Plymouth 
Eock, there was a bridge across the river near 
where the wide bridge is now located known as 
Benson's bridge. The Benson property must 

*The business of the tavern nas moved in 1815 to the John Shaw 
house, near the Green, now owned by Mrs. Horace C. Bobbins. In 
this tavern was located Sherman hall; where public meetings, balls, 
etc., were held. It was a lively center, especially on muster days, 
when the militia made it its headquarters. 



60 HISTORY OF CARVER 

have included much of the land between the Ware- 
ham road and the river, the original homestead 
being a short distance back from the N. S. Gush- 
ing farm, where the spot is now located by 
straggling remnants of apple trees. The burying 
ground was on a hill easterly from the Gushing 
house, which is now marked by a lone headstone, 
the rest having been carried away by boys. 

The first saw mill was established early in the 
18th century, about one-half mile above the pres- 
ent mill and where the rudiments of the dam may 
still be seen. A few years afterwards, the old mill 
was deserted and the dam built upon its present 
site. 

Joshua Benson was a thrifty inn keeper, whose 
tavern stood on the hill opposite the old mill. 
From the eminent position of the tavern, one 
could look over the mill and up the Plymouth road 
and the enterprising proprietor who may be 
presumed to have had a stock of Jamaica rum on 
hand, must have looked up this road with a busi- 
ness eye, as the well-to-do merchants journeyed 
between Pljnuouth and New Bedford. On a dusty 
day in summer, how refreshing to man and beast 
must have been a halt at the gay old tavern ; and 
when the cold blasts of winter chilled the travel- 
lers through and through, how inviting must have 
been the red logs that burned on the hearth and 
the stock in trade of the genial proprietor. 

On the dam beyond the mill looking from the 
tavern, was located the grist mill and the forge. 
With these thriving industries and with a gay and 
contented population. Fresh Meadows is a pleas- 



EARLY SETTLERS 61 

ant dream. The swamps in that region were 
prolific with huckleberries which the residents 
turned to good account, the men, women and chil- 
dren gathering them for the markets of Plymouth 
and New Bedford. Coming to meet the stage 
from all directions, the point where they gathered 
at the junction of the Charlotte Furnace road with 
Eochester road, came to be known as Huckle- 
berry Corner. Nathaniel Atwood occupied his 
old homestead later known as the Bates Place on 
the west side of Bates* pond; Eli Thomas and 
Ephraim Griffith tilled their farms up the Popes 
Point road; Joel Shurtleff and Caleb Atwood 
farmed their clearings up the Rochester road; 
William Washburn lived on his farm opposite the 
M. E. Church of later times. Deacon Asaph Wash- 
burn established his home beyond the river near 
Benson's bridge. 

Eeckoned from the standpoint of continued in- 
fluence, George Barrows and John Murdock were 
the pioneers of South Carver. Through marital 
connections Caleb Cushman, (whose wife was a 
daughter of George Barrows), established the 
Cushman farm about 1740 ; and later the Saverys 
were settled in the village through the Barrows 
girls. The Barrows property skirted the west 
shore of the pond and John Murdock held the 
claim to the land on the east side. The pond itself 
was lightly regarded, except for the fish it yielded 
and the grassy coves for their hay giving and 
pasturage qualities. Grassy Island was also used 

*Bates' pond was called Atwood 's pond at that time. 



62 HISTOEY OF CARVER 

as a pasture, being approached through a slough 
from the west shore. The old Barrows' home- 
stead stood at the junction of Mayflower road with 
Eochester road; the Murdock homestead was the 
farm on the east side of the pond, later known as 
the Israel Thomas farm; the Tillson farm was 
located about midway between Rochester road and 
Meadows road, in what is now known as New 
Meadows ; and it is probable that the main high- 
way at that time passed the Tillson house, the 
Silas Shaw house, the Barrows house and the 
Murdock house and so on to the fishery at the 
outlet of the pond. Rochester road as we travel 
it, was laid out in 1698, but it is probable that the 
main travel south was on the east side of the 
pond, and the old roads leading to Halfway ponds 
and Agawam, show signs of having once been main 
travelled roads. 

The success of Popes Point furnace, had fired 
the heart of Bartlett Murdock and through his 
agitation, operations towards the establishment of 
Charlotte Furnace were begun in 1760. The 
meadows south of the pond were dyked creating 
Furnace pond and flowing the coves and Grassy 
Island, for which annual damages were paid. 

There were but few residents south of the pond 
at that time. The Seipets living on the Indian 
farm, hunted and tilled the land on which the 
village of South Carver stands ; Bartlett Murdock 
moved further south and laid the foundation for 
the Island Farm ; David Shurtleff lived on his farm 
which proved to be his monument, going there- 
after by the name of The David Place ; the Cush- 




o « 

o ^ 

O '^ 

■X' <h 



o ~ 

H 5 



EAELT SETTLERS 63 

mans were clearing their land ; the Dunhams were 
farming up the Plymouth road and laying the 
foundation for Dunhamtown; the Bumpusses, 
Maxims and possibly others were scattered be- 
tween the pond and Tihonet. At the same time 
the Barrows family was settling the north side 
of the pond, and Martin Grady* was located in 
the woods in the direction of Wankinco. But the 
establishment of Charlotte Furnace laid the 
foundation for the village of South Carver, which 
went merrily on after the Revolution. 



*Martin Grady's house and farm was the one later owned by 
Thomas Shaw, near Half-way house so called. Grady's pond thus 
acquired its name. 



THE SOUTH PEECINCT OF PLYMPTON 

The western precinct of Plymouth, incorporated 
in 1698, included the hamlets of Colchester and 
Lakenham. The main settlements were clustered 
around Colchester brook and even Lakenham was 
only two miles away. South Meadows not being 
covered by the new society. But when Plympton 
was incorporated a few years later, it embraced 
all of the territory now included in the Town of 
Carver. 

When the Plympton meeting house was built, it 
was located fairly in the centre of its supporters. 
When the settlers spread out over the South lands 
clearing farms in that large tract stretching 
towards Agawam and Eochester the meet- 
ing house was left far to one side, and in less than 
forty years from the incorporation of the New So- 
ciety an agitation for still another meeting house 
began to manifest itself based upon the same logic 
that induced the Western society to withdraw 
from the Plymouth church. 

As this territory to the South grew in numbers 
and influence various compromises were offered to 
discourage the new meeting house proposition. 
In 1716 one fourth of the schoolmaster's time was 
spent at Lakenham and one fourth at South 
Meadows; and in 1731 the South was granted 20 
pounds towards preaching in that vicinity the 

65 



66 HISTORY OF CARVER 

ensuing Winter. But the agitation grew — 
natural conditions favored it — while the breach 
between the old society and the embryo society 
gradually widened. Nothing stood in the way of 
an outbreak but the opportunity and this came 
when the town of Plympton voted salaries to two 
ministers. The venerable Cushman had worked 
his way into the affections of his people and no 
hints of dismissal are visible. But he was too old 
for active service. To control the situation the 
town voted him a small salary while the regular 
salary was voted Rev. Jonathan Parker recently 
ordained. And this furnished the mutineers with 
their opportunity. 

At a special town meeting in May 1730, a pro- 
test against voting salaries to two ministers in one 
meeting house signed by 49 of the Southrons was 
filed with the moderator. Again at a meeting in 
November a stronger protest with 54 signatures 
was entered but the old society refused to yield. 
This protest shows a trace of the prevailing feel- 
ing: "We have done our duty in times past in 

supporting the minister here settled 

we look upon the circumstances of the case of Mr. 
Parker's call not agreeable to Scripture rule or 
the practice of Churches. ' ' The protest concludes 
with the statement that several of the subscribers 
have petitioned the Selectmen for a town meeting 
to ' ' set us off either as a town or precinct. ' ' 

The first impulse of the Southrons was for 
either a town or a precinct but the contest de- 
veloped a bitterness that rendered a compromise 
improbable. The old society was rigidly opposed 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 67 

to eitlier at first, but as the breach between the 
sections widened, the North found it advisable to 
look with favor upon a separate precinct with a 
view to prevent the division of the town. The 
General Court accepted the petition which was 
promptly committeed and the old society went to 
work. At a special town meeting in June, 1732, a 
committee consisting of David Bosworth, Samuel 
Bradford and Joseph Thomas was instructed to 
establish the line setting off the proposed South 
Precinct; and a committee composed of Capt. 
Caleb Loring, Samuel Sturtevant and Joseph 
Thomas was sent to the General Court then in 
session to answer the petition of the South end 
people. 

In September the committee to whom had been 
referred the petition visited Plympton, perambu- 
lated the proposed dividing line, and heard all 
interested parties. The committeemen un- 
doubtedly took a judicial view of the situation and 
their judgment was tempered with mercy. They 
decided upon a separate precinct and as the new 
precinct would take away one third of the ratable 
estates it should pay one third of Mr. Cushman's 
salary while he lived. Upon their own request 
the families of Edmund Tillson, Isaac Nye, Elisha 
Witton, Eleazer Cushman, Eleazer Rickard and 
Ephraim Tillson were to remain with the old so- 
ciety. The division line was practically the 
Plympton-Carver town line although several un- 
important changes have been made. The act in- 
corporating the Precinct passed its final stage 
November 16, 1732. 



68 HISTORY OP CARVER 

Six of the freeholders of the new precinct im- 
mediately petitioned John Murdock of Plymouth, 
one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for a 
precinct meeting and the warrant addressed to 
Barnabas Shurtleff one of the petitioners sum- 
moned the new society in legal meeting Monday, 
December 18, 1732. At this meeting Barnabas 
Shurtleff was chosen Moderator, Joseph Lucas 
Clerk, and Capt. Barnabas Shurtleff, Richard 
Dwelly and Samuel Lucas, Precinct committee. 
At an adjourned meeting January 8, 1732, Capt. 
Shurtleff, John Murdock and Joseph Lucas were 
chosen Assessors, and Jabez Nye, Collector. 
Eighty pounds were raised for the support of the 
minister and Mrs. Mary Shaw was authorized to 
entertain the ministerial candidates at the ex- 
pense of the Precinct. 

The bitterness engendered by the conflict be- 
tween the old and new precincts manifested itself 
for several years after the separation. At this 
first legal meeting of the new society it was voted 
not to pay the assessment against them for the 
salary of ''Mr. Jonathan Parker." It was held 
by the debaters that they had agreed to pay one 
third of Mr. Cushman's salary but not that of Mr. 
Parker. The old society had the legal end of the 
argument as the assessment was due before the 
South Precinct was incorporated but there was a 
chip on the shoulder of the young society. 
Plympton appealed to the courts while the South 
Precinct voted to stand by their constable in re- 
sisting the assessment and Capt. Barnabas Shurt- 
leff was chosen to assist in the defence. 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 69 

The precinct was unfortunate in its first min- 
istry. Not only was there constant turmoil with 
the common town but the relations between pastor 
and people were not pleasant. Which party was 
in the right does not appear at this day but it is 
probable that there was a lack of compromise on 
both sides that always leads to misunderstanding. 
The first salary was to be 80 pounds with an 
honorable support ever after so long as the min- 
ister remained with the society. In the first candi- 
date 's answer to the call he said ''an honorable 
support for myself and family should God give 
me one. ' ' This was indefinite and the freeholders 
debated. Should they bind themselves to support 
the minister's family as long as it lived? The 
candidate explained that he meant to be under- 
stood as saying as long as he remained their 
pastor and with this explanation the doubters 
were satisfied. They did not stop to consider 
what a world of varied construction was wrapped 
up in that innocent clause "an honorable support" 
and before they could get a separation from the 
first minister this question must be sifted by the 
courts. 

At the adjourned meeting Benoni Shaw, John 
Witton and Samuel Jackson were constituted a 
committee to procure preachers until the Precinct 
was ready to give a call. In less than a month — 
February 15th — the voters were ready and the 
first call was given Rev. Othniel Campbell. 

The ordination of a minister was an event of 
great import in that generation and the cere- 
monies attending the ordination of Rev. Mr. 



70 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Campbell gave birth to the first general holiday of 
the South Precinct, June 2, 1733. Committees 
were appointed to entertain the ministers and 
other invited guests while ministers from Eoches- 
ter, Plymouth, Kingston, Middleboro, Taunton, 
Eaynham and Plympton lent the dignity of their 
presence. Samuel Shaw entertained the min- 
isters and their horses at the expense of the Pre- 
cinct. 

Mr. Campbell's first salary was 80 pounds and 
this was gradually increased until in 1741 it had 
reached the highest limit — 160 pounds. In ad- 
dition to the salary he was sometimes granted 
extra remuneration whenever any unusual event 
occurred. In 1742 the salary was dropped to 40 
pounds lawful money with an additional gift of 
five pounds *4n consideration of the rise in things 
the past year." This sudden fall in the salary 
has no bearing on the relations between pastor 
and people but is entirely due to the general 
financial disarrangements of the Province. 

March 1, 1742-43 the Precinct voted to postpone 
action on the minister's salary and the following 
September 40 pounds were raised for ' ' supplying 
the pulpit. ' ' There was trouble between preacher 
and people and this was the outcome. At a church 
meeting December 6, Rev. Mr. Campbell was dis- 
missed. A Precinct meeting was summoned 
December 26 to see if the Precinct would concur 
in the action of the church. Each faction pulled 
the political string with an artistic hand; great 
excitement prevailed throughout the Precinct; 
and expectations of a sensation filled the meeting 
house on the daj^ of the public meeting. 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 71 

Capt. Barnabas Shurtleff was chosen moderator 
and in calling the meeting to order he enquired to 
know if anyone had anything to say against the 
warrant. There being no response to this chal- 
lenge he added: ''Here is a paper put in by 
James Shaw and others directed to no person, no 
meeting nor no date and therefore the moderator 
will take no notice of it. ' ' 

The main question was then put, that is to see 
if the Precinct would concur in the action of the 
church in dismissing Rev. Mr. Campbell. In the 
eagerness of both factions to win many voted who 
were not legally entitled to that privilege and the 
moderator refused to count the hands. In this 
predicament he ordered the house divided, those 
favoring concurrence in the women's seats and 
those opposed in the men's seats, and the women's 
seats containing the majority of the freeholders 
he declared for concurrence. Joseph Bridgham, 
Elisha Lucas, Abel Crocker, John Shaw, Samuel 
Shaw and Samuel Jackson were named as a com- 
mittee to procure a new minister. 

In the passions of the contest the Precinct 
voted not to pay the charges of the Council of 
Churches but wisely reconsidered the action the 
following January when the necessary appropri- 
ation was made and Ensign NathanielAtwood in- 
structed to act with the treasurer in adjusting the 
dispute with Rev. Mr. Campbell. But the breach 
between Mr. Campbell and the Precinct authori- 
ties was too wide to be bridged by local hands and 
the minister appealed to the courts. Capt. Barnabas 
Shurtleff and Joseph Bridgham were selected to 



72 HISTORY OF CARVER 

represent the Precinct at the May session of the 
** Peace" '^or at any other court he may rest his 
case." Mr. Campbell lost his case in the lower 
court and appealed to the Superior Court of As- 
sizes which entered his appeal and continued it 
much to the chagrin of the anti-Campbell faction. . 

The case was thoroughly discussed in the Pre- 
cinct and the antis expressed their minds freely 
over what appeared to them the injustice in the 
assumption of jurisdiction by the Superior Court. 
A special Precinct meeting was called when At- 
wood and Bridgham were instructed to appeal to 
the Great and General Court for ''help and relief 
from the burden and difficulty we labor under" as 
a result of allowing this case to go beyond the 
general sessions of the peace. Mr. Campbell won 
a judgment but the Precinct refused to submit and 
the matter was continued until 1748 when a second 
appeal was made to the General Court for assist- 
ance in settling with Mr. Campbell and "to com- 
pel him to give up the church records." Nothing 
resulted from this move and in 1751 the committee 
had reached an agreement with their ex-minister 
by allowing him 10 pounds in addition to the 
court's allowance. This agreement was subse- 
quently ratified by the Precinct and the matter 
was closed. 

After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Campbell there 
was no settled minister in the Precinct until the 
ordination of John Howland. In April, 1745, the 
church voted a call to Lemuel Briant to which the 
Precinct concurred the following month with a 
salary of 46 pounds and 5s. A committee was 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 73 

named to acquaint Mr. Briant of the proceedings 
and the meeting adjourned one month. At the 
adjourned meeting a settlement was voted Mr. 
Briant and there he drops from the records. The 
following January John Howland was called by 
the church, the Precinct concurred February 8th 
with a salary of £46 Is the first year and an 
''honorable support thereafter." Perhaps we 
can see in Mr. Rowland's answer something of the 
character of this truly remarkable man. 

To ye Chh. and Congregation in ye South part 
of Plympton, Gentlemen — In as much as God in 
his Providence has been pleased to Prosper My 
Poore Labors among you as to Incline your Souls 
to Give Me a Call to ye Worke of ye Gospel Min- 
istry among you and after Given Thanks to God 

for ye hearts of ye People Towards men and 

having maturely Considered on ye Proposition I 
Do Accept of your Call Expecting such a Main- 
tenance as ye Gospel allows to Those that Waite 
att ye Alter, that Accepting of ye Salery as Voted 
with your finding of me my Wood Praying that 

the Grate Sherard wold the little Vine which 

he hath Planted and be Mindful of his Little Flock 
and build you up into Spiritual House and Eestore 

unto it its former Peace and Unity, that 

brotherly love may not only continue but increase, 
that all strife envj and evil worke may be put 
away, that we may be so Blessed and Prospered 
that he that soweth and he that Keapeth may be 
one. Desiring a remembrance in your prayer that 
I may make full proof of my Ministry and so take 



74 HISTORY OP CARVER 

Heed to myself and doctrine so that after I have 
Preached to others I myself may not be cast away. 
I rest yours in all sincere Love and Eespect. 

Plympton, June 21, 1746. 

John Howland. 

Mr. Howland had preached to the people at in- 
tervals since the retirement of Rev. Mr. Campbell 
but his salary did not begin until July 14, 1746, 
and that date may be properly named as the be- 
ginning of his ministry. 

There was a wide variation in his salary during 
his ministry owing to the financial fluctuations of 
the country. The second year it was increased to 
£185; the third year to £286; the fourth year 
dropped to £200; and in 1750 it was dropped to 
£40, one half of which was to be in supplies. From 
that period to the Eevolutiouary disturbances it 
ranged around £65. In 1778 he was voted £64, but 
at a special Precinct meeting he was voted an ad- 
ditional £128. In 1779 his salary was £400 and the 
year following it jumped to the princely figure of 
£1800. In 1781 it dropped to £75 in silver. In 
this varying credit of the country the Precinct 
became bewildered to such an extent that in 1782 it 
voted to petition the General Court for instruc- 
tions and advice respecting the support of the 
minister. The same year the Precinct voted in 
despair to give the Collector one silver dollar '*in 
the room of thirty paper ones." 

This alarming inflation of prices was not the 
only obstacle in the path of the peace of the Pre- 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 75 

cinct. The Baptists were on the increase and 
with their increasing strength swelled the mur- 
murs of discontent with the rates ; while the South 
Meadow people who had built a meeting house in 
the Southern part of the Precinct were in a con- 
stant state of rebellion. There had been so much 
friction with these malcontents that the Precinct 
voted to petition the General Court for authority 
to let the people south of the South Meadow river 
decide for themselves whether they would belong 
to the old church. 

Rev. John Howland saw the Precinct develop to 
its zenith and enter its decline. He saw his coun- 
try pass through trying ordeals ; the government 
overthrown by revolution ; the powers of the Pre- 
cinct melting away one by one ; yet through all of 
these vicissitudes he seems never to have lost his 
supreme faith. 

In 1794 John Bennett of Rochester, dissatisfied 
with the doctrine preached in his church, peti- 
tioned to become a member of the South Precinct 
of Plympton by virtue of a small tract of marsh 
meadow owned by him within the limits of the 
Precinct. In 1799 John Samson, Isaac Shaw, 
Isaac Mann, Jr., John Bryant, Joshua Perkins and 
Elkanah Shaw, petitioned the General Court to 
set them within the jurisdiction of the First 
Precinct of Middleboro. These mutineers resided 
in the Rocky Meadow district and their petition 
was opposed. The committee authorized to act 
for the Precinct was instructed to settle with the 
petitioners, provided it could come to an agree- 
ment by sacrificing Samson and Shaw. 



76 HISTORY OF CARVER 

During the last quarter of the eighteenth cen- 
tury, opposition to the rates developed strength 
rapidly. The Revolution, the Constitution and 
the incorporation of the town of Carver gave 
strength to newer methods of church government 
and the old regime, recognizing the strength of the 
opposition, made frequent abatements. While 
the Precinct was not legally dead until 1833, the 
dawn of the 19th century saw its surrender to 
public sentiment for its power had waned, its 
Assessors powerless and its rate bills optional 
with the tax payer. Annual remittances of the 
taxes against the Baptists and the South Meadow 
people were made and amounts raised to cover 
the deficiency. Not infrequently the Precinct 
voted to assess those who would volunteer to pay 
the assessment and so the custom of supporting 
the minister by voluntary subscriptions came in 
robed in the raiment of the old order. In 1806 
for the first time, the Precinct voted to pass the 
contribution box after services every Sunday 
evening. 

Through all of these vicissitudes is stamped 
the greatness of Rev. John Howland. Wlien his 
people were blessed with abundance he shared in 
their blessings ; when they were pinched by 
poverty or shaken by financial disturbances he 
shared in their misfortunes. To carry his people 
through hard years, he volunteered to take a re- 
duced salary or to accept a part of it in ''corn, rye, 
or any other provisions which he might want and 
which his people could spare." Thus for sixty 
years he stood as a bulwark of faith in prosperity 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 77 

and in adversity, and in the dissensions among his 
people his voice seems to have been for peace and 
his sincerity never questioned. Perhaps it was 
one of his rewards to give up his life before the 
actual dismemberment of his church. 

And now arose the question of selecting a suc- 
cessor to the venerable Howland. Calls were 
voted Lothrop Thompson, Daniel Thomas and 
Gaines Conant but they all ended in failure. In 
January, 1807, Kev. John Shaw accepted a call 
and became the third settled minister of the 
Precinct. He was ordained October 7 by the fol- 
lowing Council: Rev. Samuel Niles and Deacon 
Jacob Pool, Abington; Rev. Joseph Barker and 
Deacon Perez Thomas, Middleboro; Rev. Noble 
Everett and Capt. Jeremiah Bumpus, Wareham; 
Rev. Adoniram Judson and Maj. Benjamin War- 
ren, Plymouth ; Rev. Jonathan Strong and Deacon 
William Linfield, Randolph; Rev. James Kendall 
and Benjamin Whiting, Plymouth; Rev. Abel 
Richmond and Deacon Jacob Thompson, Halifax ; 
Rev. Asa Mead and Deacon David Edson, Bridge- 
water. 

With the ministry of Shaw began the dissolu- 
tion of the Precinct, although attempts were 
periodically made to prolong its life. At regular 
and special meetings the question of holding por- 
tions of the services in the South Meeting house, 
and later in the Central Meeting house furnished 
a bone of contention for half a century. While 
the troubles of the Precinct were carried into town 
meetings the town as a whole remained impartial 
and the last days of the Precinct and the first days 



78 HISTORY OF CARVER 

of the Parish were marked by a succession of 
struggles, compromises and defeats for those who 
heroically strove to maintain the old regime. 

In 1808 the minister was instructed to preach 
one-third of the time in the South Meeting house, 
and a committee named to see where the centre of 
the town would fall. Such attempts to establish 
one church in town were moves of the insurgents 
and opposed by the old guard. The year follow- 
ing the mutineers stayed at home on election day, 
while the Precinct without opposition voted that 
every ratable man be taxed and the collector was 
instructed to "try and see what he can collect." 
At this meeting it was voted to put out the collec- 
tion of taxes in the South part of the Precinct to 
the lowest bidder, but there was no bid. The next 
move was to elect Jesse Murdock collector at a 
commission of 20 cents per pound, but Murdock 
declined the offer, and another committee was 
named to find someone who would serve the 
Precinct as Collector. This committee reported 
its inability of finding anyone who would accept 
the position and the meeting adjourned. At a 
meeting in November following Maj. Nehemiah 
Cobb, an uncompromising leader of the old church, 
volunteered to collect the taxes against these 
rebellious Southrons, but he was not successful 
and the following January the rates against forty- 
eight men who had paid towards the support of 
the Baptist minister were remitted by a margin of 
five votes and against a written protest signed by 
28 of the old guard. 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 79 

In 1811 James Vaughan and Thomas Ham- 
mond, a committee to consult in matters pertain- 
ing to taxation and to make proposals to the 
Baptists, reported that they were unable to find 
a committee of the new society that was willing 
to confer, and the following year the Precinct 
voted to circulate a subscription paper to see how 
much could be i^ledged for the salary of the 
minister, Eev. Mr. Shaw having consented to re- 
main another year for what volunteer subscrip- 
tions could be obtained. In 1813 the birth of the 
donation party occurred, when by vote the day 
after Thanksgiving was set apart as a day when 
anyone so disposed could meet at the residence 
of the minister with their own choice by way of 
contribution. 

In 1816 the standing committee was instructed 
to meet a committee of the Southern society to 
apportion the money raised for preaching and 
also to ''persuade those of the Baptist denomina- 
tion to take proper measures to be set off or to 
be taxed by the Precinct. ' ' 

In 1824 the Centre meeting house having been 
erected, the Precinct voted that all persons south 
of the Plains have preaching in their own meeting 
house in proportion to what they subscribed for 
the support of the minister. Undaunted by 
numberless defeats, a new committee was chosen 
to circulate a paper for the purpose of seeing 
how many would volunteer to pay their taxes. 
But revolutions do not run backwards, and the 
old method of supporting the pulpit by com- 
pulsory taxation was dead forever. Recognizing 



80 HISTORY OF CARVER 

finally in 1825 that further efforts to revive the 
ancient regime were useless, a special meeting 
was called in July, which voted to pass subscrip- 
tion papers for the support of preaching in the 
North and Central churches. This plan worked 
so satisfactorily that the next year the South was 
taken into the plan, and Jabez Sherman for the 
North, Capt. Lothrop Barrows for the Centre, 
and Deacon Asaph Washburn for the South were 
named as a soliciting committee to raise funds 
for the support of preaching in their respective 
churches. The annual meeting for 1827 was held 
in the Central building, and the two societies 
united for that year. 

As it is true that the Precinct was dead long 
before it was abolished by legislative enactment, 
it is also true that the Parish was in existence 
before it was formally adopted as a custom. The 
old died and the new was born in a common 
twilight, when the ideal of the fathers blended in 
the ideal of the sons. The last Precinct meeting 
was held October 18, 1830, and the first Parish 
meeting March 28, 1831. 

There were radicals and conservatives in that 
conflict. The conservatives held relentlessly to the 
old way, the radicals as stoutly for a change. Be- 
tween these extremes there appears a strong 
faction whose purpose was to hold the Precinct 
together in one strong compact and in whose 
minds sectarianism held a secondary place: This 
faction fought and compromised against a di- 
vision of the church, but the Fates were against 
them. 




J 



BENJAMIN W. KOBIilNS 
From a Pliotograpli taken in 18 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 81 

At a period corresponding with the demise of 
the Precinct the South disappeared as a disturb- 
ing factor. Methodism had its birth in that end 
of the town about 1828, and those unconverted to 
the doctrine of Wesley were left to shift for 
themselves. This faction controlled the South 
Meeting house, but it lacked the soul to give it 
life, and save occasional efforts there was no 
organized church work until the Union society 
was organized in 1853. 

But for another quarter century after the 
passing of the Precinct the union under the 
Parish between the North and Central societies 
continued. Both societies had the use of church 
buildings, both were positive forces in the com- 
munity, both were ambitious to keep their houses 
open for public worship, but each was too poor 
financially to stand alone. 

This policy of union, desirable as it seemed to 
many, in the development of sectarian matters at 
that age, was unnatural. The tendency of the age 
was against it, and gradually we see the societies, 
drifting apart. 

No language can present this cleavage in a 
more eloquent manner than that presented by the 
Parish votes. With a few notable exceptions the 
Parish meetings were held in the North meeting 
house, and the old society leaders disliked to 
yield to the extent of holding any of the services 
in the Central building, however much policy may 
have pointed out the wisdom of such a course. 
And yielding to this demand for a while one-third 
of the services were held at the Centre; then 



82 HISTORY OF CARVER 

one-third during nine months of the year; then 
one-third for six months of the year; then one 
meeting in every seventh ; then one-third for five 
months of the year. In 1853 nine services were 
held in the Central building, and in 1854, the 
year that witnessed the end of the union it was 
voted to hold one-sixth of the services in the 
Centre church provided that society would pay for 
them. Thus ended the union of the two societies 
and long before the Parish was abolished it had 
relinquished all claims to the outlying districts, 
confining its jurisdiction to the northern end of 
the town with a section of Middleboro, and came 
to be known as the church and society of North 
Carver. 

There were practical Reasons why the Parish 
should remain intact and when the societies 
parted the question of supporting a minister be- 
came a serious problem for both. At times there 
was no settled minister over the old society and 
its meeting house had become so poor that it was 
the main fact that led to the resignation of Eev. 
Stillman Pratt. From this time to the end of the 
career of the Parish its annual meetings were 
stereotyped affairs — simply the election of offi- 
cers and a vote to leave the affairs of the Parish 
in the hands of the Standing Committee. There 
were years when no Parish meetings were held 
the management of its former duties having been 
assumed by the church. Thus the Parish, like its 
predecessor the Precinct, yielded by force of cir- 
cumstances to newer methods of church govern- 
ment. From 1896 to 1903 there was no Parish 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 83^ 

meeting, and in 1903 a meeting was called for the 
purpose of deeding the church building, Parish 
meadow and woodlot to the church, and in 1907 
the final act — a vote to abolish the Parish. 

The material body of the Precinct was similar 
to that of our modern town. A moderator was 
chosen to preside at the meeting and its adjourn- 
ments, and the annual meeting was held in March. 
At the beginning of the meeting an auditing com- 
mittee was chosen to examine the account of the 
treasurer, and as the account was brief the audi- 
tors finished their duty and reported before a new 
treasurer was chosen. 

A standing committee, annually elected, was 
the executive arm of the Precinct, bearing the 
relation to its affairs that a board of Selectmen 
holds in the affairs of a town. 

Assessors were annually chosen who assessed 
the poles and estates for the support of the church. 
The Baptist church was the first to attack the 
work of the assessors holding it unfair to tax 
one for the support of a doctrine foreign to his 
belief. In the latter days of the Precinct it was 
voted to apply to the courts for authority for the 
assessors to enforce their decrees, an authority 
they already held but which had become obsolete 
through public sentiment. 

The position of a collector was an undesirable 
one and not until 1764 did one of these publicans 
succeed himself. So unpopular was this official 
as sentiments changed, that frequent special meet- 
ings were necessary to fill the vacancy caused by 
the declination of the elected officer, and twice at 



84 HISTORY OF CARVER 

least the Precinct voted to prosecute its collector 
for declining to qualify. Consider Chase seems 
to have been imbued with peculiar taste or quali- 
fications for this position, and he was several 
times accepted after endeavoring to fasten the 
duties on some other candidate. 

The years 1743 and 1744, no assessments having 
been made, there was no work for a collector, and 
this situation occurred frequently in later years. 
Sometimes as a matter of precedent, or law, a 
collector was chosen and the Precinct voted that 
in the event of any work falling to him he ' ' should 
be honorably rewarded." The compensation of 
this official varied. Sometimes he was agreed 
with for a stated amount ; sometimes he was voted 
a commission ; sometimes the collections were put 
up at auction; and once at least the Collector 
volunteered to do the work for what he could col- 
lect from people who resided outside of the Pre- 
cinct and once also he was paid by subscription 
among the wealthier residents of the Precinct. 

The most serious situation confronting a Col- 
lector arose in consequence of the inflation attend- 
ing the Revolutionary finances. The Collector 
was held responsible for his collections, and after 
making his collections to find that his money was 
almost worthless he was in a sea of trouble. To 
help him out of this dilemma the Precinct voted 
to fix the ratio with which he could exchange his 
paper for silver. One Collector who found his 
receipts heavily loaded with counterfeits, was re- 
leased on the ground that he ''took it ignorantly." 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 85 

Frequently, beginning in 1781 when the au- 
thority of the Precinct had begun to wane through 
the persistent mutiny of the South Meadow peo- 
ple, two Collectors were chosen, one for the North 
and one for the South. To fill the latter position 
was a difficult undertaking, for that section of the 
Precinct was solidly opposed to the rates, and it 
was necessary at times to vote to sustain the Col- 
lector in the event of a law-suit following his at- 
tempt, before any one would accept. 

Beginning with 1734-35 an agent was annually 
chosen ''to keep the key to the meeting house and 
see that it was swept." In 1765 this agent was 
called the sexton, but the 19th century was well 
under way before this official became permanently 
known under that designation. 

The critic of the twentieth century does not 
appreciate the importance of the Meeting house 
of the seventeenth century. The residents were 
scattered farmers without newspapers, telephones 
or railroads, and with no communication through 
the mails. Even horses and carriages were not in 
common use, roads were rustic and blind, and the 
travelling was necessarily slow. The custom of 
meeting at the taverns had not developed and the 
family really lived in a world by itself unmindful 
of the wishes or circumstances of its neighbors. 
It can readily be understood how, under such con- 
ditions, the Meeting house should be regarded as 
the first essential of civil government, the centre 
where the isolated people could meet to learn of 
each others sorrows and joys, and to transact 
business of a common concern. And the ser- 



86 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

mon, for there was no reading matter available 
and few could read even if they had the books, 
and thus to the common people the Bible and the 
sermon furnished the only message between peo- 
ple and people. Hence the erection of a Meeting 
house was essential before a community could be 
robed in the rights, immunities and powers of a 
civil body. 

In the early days of the 18th century tlje resi- 
dents of the South section of the town of Plympton 
felt the necessity of one of these Meeting houses 
and in 1731 the initial papers were drawn. The 
building was to be located on the hill north of the 
burying ground and the subscriptions, one third 
in money and two thirds in specie, were payable 
to Richard Dwelley and Isaac Waterman. The 
temple was erected according to plan between 
October, 1731, and December, 1732. 

The location of the Meeting house was a bone of 
contention from the start. While there appears 
to have been no dissatisfaction over the original 
site the rapid growth of the Southern section of 
the new Precinct early gave rise to discontent 
which became the subject of agitation for upwards 
of a century. In 1767 a serious attempt was 
made to move the building to a lot near the Cross 
Paths, the South Meadow people contending that 
the Meeting house should be near the centre of 
population, and as their polling strength ap- 
proached that of the defenders of the old site they 
proved a factor to be reckoned with. The ques- 
tion came to an issue at a Precinct meeting in the 
year above mentioned when a motion to move the 



SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 87 

building was defeated, but by such a narrow mar- 
gin that it did not end the agitation. At the same 
meeting it was voted to enlarge the building and 
plans were adopted to carry the ordinance into 
effect. 

The South Meadow people refused to abide by 
this verdict and they caused a special meeting to 
be called to act upon reconsideration. Some 
went so far as to demand a division of the Pre- 
cinct. While they lacked the strength to force a 
reconsideration they alarmed the old guard who, 
fearing a weak committee rescinded all previous 
orders and voted with a sweep 'Ho take affairs 
in their own hands," and in this drastic manner 
the old building was enlarged, but against the 
loud protests of the Southrons. 

The South Meadow people were so persistent 
in the matter that the friends of the Precinct de- 
cided it the part of wisdom to bring some pressure 
to bear that would end the agitation. Accord- 
ingly at a meeting in 1769 it was voted to leave 
the whole question to a disinterested committee 
composed of Capt. Josiah Snell of Bridgewater, 
Col. John Thomas of Kingston and Thomas May- 
hew, Esq., of Plymouth. The Arbitration Board 
thus constituted visited the Precinct, viewed the 
situation, heard all persons interested, and in 
September rendered its report. The report coun- 
selled unity but decided that the Cross Paths was 
not a proper place for a Meeting house. This 
report silenced the agitation for a while but it did 
not remove the cause and the same question came 
up two generations later in its old virile form. 



88 HISTORY OF CARVER 

This temple stood for nearly a century and un- 
til it became in a condition unfit for public uses, 
while the financial condition of the Precinct 
coupled with the old dissatisfaction over the ques- 
tion of a location interposed serious barriers in 
the way of the erection of a new building. 

The extreme South enders had* erected a build- 
ing of their own, but as the Precinct had refused 
to use it according to the wishes of the Proprie- 
tors, these residents added their strength to that 
of the South Meadow people in the fight for the 
location of a new Precinct Meeting house. 

Rev. John Shaw may be considered as the last 
of the ministers of the old regime and after he 
surrendered his charge the Precinct rapidly de- 
cayed. A serious attempt beginning in 1816 and 
ending in 1821, was made to get the fragments to- 
gether but to no purpose. The line of cleavage 
between the two societies was too marked and to 
add to the perplexities of the situation the Congre- 
gationalists were hopelessly divided on the ques- 
tion of location. 

In 1816 the Precinct voted to demolish the old 
structure and build anew on the same site. This 
was the olive branch held out by the old guard who 
really favored a site near the Green, but by way 
of a compromise this plan was suggested only to 
be rejected by the South Meadow people. Two 
weeks later all previous orders were reconsidered 
and a committee consisting of Ehisign Barnabas 
Lucas, Capt. Joshua Cole and Nathan Cobb named 
to make an estimate of a new building. In Janu- 
ary following all votes were again reconsidered 



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SOUTH PRECINCT OF PLYMPTON 89 

and the Precinct began anew by voting an assess- 
ment of one hundred and fifty dollars on the pew 
holders for the purpose of repairing the building. 
This action did not meet with success as the as- 
sessment was not collectable in those degenerate 
days of the Precinct. The friends of the Precinct 
gave up the struggle at this point and rested until 
1819 when they voted to build a new Meeting house 
near the Green provided some one would con- 
tribute the lot, and in 1820 they voted uncon- 
ditionally to build a new Meeting house in the 
North end of the Precinct. While the vote ap- 
pears on the Precinct records it was not strictly 
speaking a Precinct move, and no serious effort 
was made to hold the Precinct to the contract. 
The South and Centre had retired from the com- 
pact forever and when the building was built it 
was financed by the Proprietors of the North 
Meeting house. The question of a location was 
not settled and no sooner had the plan started 
than the Congregationalists of the Centre united 
with the Baptists to build the Central Meeting 
house. This union between the two sects for the 
erection of the temple resulted in its common use 
for nearly fifty years or until the plan of its con- 
struction died a natural death through the death 
or neglect of the Proprietors. 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 

In common with other Old Colony towns with 
one notable exception Plynipton entered seriously 
into the problems that led to the Eevolution. 
Not the least of the obstacles in the way of the 
execution of its work was the financial straits 
in which the town found itself, and how- 
ever heartily she may have desired to play her 
part in the great struggle she was hampered by 
circumstances beyond her control. But hers was 
no isolated case for it is a well known fact that 
the problem of financing the country through a 
seven years' destructive war transcended every 
other problem. The soldiers were ready but the 
means were lacking. 

However, unless the cause went by default, the 
town must assist in caring for her soldiers, caring 
for their families, and providing its quota of 
beef and other necessities called for by orders of 
the Continental Congress. No sooner did the 
storm break than the country's money and credit 
vanished. Attempts to supply the deficiency by 
issuing paper met the fate expected for there was 
no permanent government and the fiat of the Con- 
tinental Congress died when the congress ad- 
journed. What wonder that the continental cur- 
rency, with its cable cut, soared away into a body- 
less myth? And how natural for people to use 

91 



92 HISTORY OF CARVER 

the term in measuring items of no conceivable 
value. So far did the currency soar that in one 
year the town of PljTupton voted seventy-eight 
thousand pounds for war purposes, and for all 
practical purposes the appropriation may as well 
have been seventy-eight millions, for however 
easily the appropriation may have been made and 
the paper collected it was forever worthless. 
Committees were appointed to fix the ratio be- 
tween the new and old ''emitions" and hard 
money. Sixty to one was easily written and pro- 
posed — not so easily sustained when one of the 
quantities compared was in hiding and the other 
uncontrollable. The Committees might as well 
have attempted to fix a ratio of velocity between 
Plymouth Rock and the East wind, and we may 
smile as we speculate on the feverish debates in 
town meeting upon the question of accepting the 
Committee's report, with a vote of non concur- 
rence. And so while we appreciate the sacrifices of 
the soldiers at the front we should not forget the 
sacrifices of those who stayed at home. 

The townspeople shared the sentiment against 
the Stamp Act and assisted in the agitation for 
its repeal. Its representative in the General 
Court for 1765 was instructed to act with the rep- 
resentatives from Boston, believing that what 
Boston desired, Plympton should desire, and hav- 
ing full faith in the patriotism and judgment of 
the Boston leaders. The town voted promptly 
against paying anything from the Province treas- 
ury for damages sustained in the disturbances 
against the Stamp Act, while the matter of erect- 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 93 

ing a monument in honor of the services of Pitt 
in securing the repeal of the obnoxious law it was 
content to leave at the discretion of the General 
Court. 

Following the repeal of that law tariff taxes 
became the storm centre of the town's revo- 
lutionary spirit. Here again the Boston leaders 
were entrusted when it was voted unanimously to 
concur with the representatives from the town 
of Boston in the matter of boycotting certain im- 
ports and of promoting manufacturing in the 
Colony. In 1768 Capt. John Bradford was chosen 
as the town's representative to a convention in 
Faneuil hall ''to take under consideration the 
dangerous situation we apprehend this Province 
is in." Gov. Bernard had dissolved the General 
Court at a time when the Colonists were appre- 
hensive of an attack from the French, and fearful 
of the loss, through British usurpation, of their 
civil and religious liberties. 

In July, 1774, Capt. George Bryant, William 
Ripley, Dea. Samuel Lucas, Capt. Seth Cushing, 
Dea. Thomas Savery, Benjamin Shurtleff and 
Joseph Perkins were named as a committee to 
consider the alarming state of public affairs and 
report at a later meeting. This report indicates 
the seriousness with which the committee viewed 
the situation and their resolution to meet it firmly. 
The report says ; 

"In the first place we recommend unto all to 
be deeply humble before God under a deep sense 
of the many aggravated sins which abound in the 
land in this dav of our calamity which is the 



94 HISTORY OF CARVER 

fundamental cause of all the calamities that we 
feel or fear and repent and turn to God with our 
whole hearts. Then we may humbly hope that 
God will graciously be pleased to return unto us 
and appear for our deliverance and save us from 
the distress we are now laboring under and pre- 
vent larger calamities coming upon us. 

We also recommend that the town by no means 
to be concerned in purchasing or consuming any 
goods imported from Great Britain after the 
first day of October next and until our grievances 
are removed, and with regard to entering into any 
combination respecting purchasing goods im- 
ported from Great Briton we humbly conceive it 
would be very improper to act anything of that 
nature until the result of Congress shall be made 
public and upon the report thereof we advise the 
town to be very active in pursuing the most regu- 
lar method in order to promote the good of the 
public and the flourishing state of the same. ' ' 

The above committee with the addition of David 
Megone, James Harlow, John Bridgham, John 
Shaw, Isaiah Cushman and Isaac Churchill were 
continued to act upon the report of the Contin- 
ental Congress. 

The struggle was on in earnest now and there 
shall be no turning back until we are freed from 
British power. Seriously and carefully but 
firmly the town stood by the provisions of the 
Congress and the proposals of the patriot leaders 
for furthering these ends. Families and friends 
must be separated, brothers may strike at each 
other from opposing sides in the bloody conflict, 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 95 

for in the dark hour of war more emphatically 
than at any other time is fulfilled the saying of the 
prophets : ' * Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ' ' 
The out and out Tories departed and their lands 
were seized and rented for the benefit of the 
town treasury. 

Another considerable faction with Tory learn- 
ings that could not go to the extent of forsaking 
property and associations whose voice was always 
on the side of regularity and who constantly 
scanned the cloudy horizon for the star of peace 
that would compromise the differences between 
crown and subject. When in 1775 the town voted 
to pay the Province tax to Henry Gardner of Stow 
instead of to the Province Treasurer these con- 
servatives called a special town meeting to act 
upon reconsideration. It is admitted that these 
conservatives had regularity on their side but the 
town had cast its lot in the vortex of revolution 
where precedent and regularity are abolished and 
by a large majority it refused to reconsider its 
revolutionary action. 

In that tempestuous year of 1774, Plympton's 
representative in the General Court was in- 
structed to "do nothing that is inconsistent with 
our charter rights and privileges," but in case the 
Governor should adjourn the Court to Boston said 
representative must refuse to attend, unless' the 
Governor would first remove the British soldiers 
from the town. Deacon Samuel Lucas was chosen 
as the town's representative to a Provincial con- 
gress at Concord. 



96 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Early in 1776 a committee of six was named to 
solicit for the poor of Boston and Charlestown, 
"and Capt. Seth Gushing was chosen representative 
to the General Court to be holden in Watertown. 
The following Committee of Safety, Correspond- 
ence and Refraction was chosen by the town: 
Thomas Savery, Thomas Loring, Jr., Isaiah Cush- 
man, Eleazer Crocker, Joshua Perkins and Ben- 
jamin Ward. And in these stirring pre-revolu- 
tionary days, the town of Plympton discounted 
the Continental Congress by forty-two days, de- 
claring for independence at a town meeting May 
23d when, according to the records of the town 
clerk, ''voted unanimously independence of Great 
Briton," and caused the Selectmen to take a spe- 
cial oath to take a full account of the number of 
the inhabitants of this town agreeable to the order 
of the Continental Congress. 

In the last years of the war the town had to 
exert itself to fill its quotas, and the calls were 
provided in town meetings. Years of hardships, 
financial discouragements and uncertainties, had 
made enlisting hazardous, but the town found a 
way to hold its own and its quotas were always 
provided for. It is fair to state that the total 
enlistments, including re-enlistments from the 
town during the war equalled one-third of the 
population. The olive branch was never held out 
to the Tories. In 1783 it was voted ''not to re- 
ceive any of the Refugees which had fled to the 
enemy for protection into this town," and to em- 
phasize the vote it was voted to hire out their 
lands and turn the rentals into the town treasury. 




O dc 

K 

ci 
o 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 97 

The town sent two representatives to the con- 
vention that framed the Constitution of 1780. The 
representatives made their report, but the records 
are silent as to any final action. It is probable 
that there was difference of opinion as to the 
merits of the instrument which was compromised 
by delay. In 1780 the following committees were 
chosen to report at a subsequent town meeting, 
work and places of service of the various soldiers 
who had served in the revolutionary army from 
Plympton : 

For Capt. Sampson's company: Isaiah Cush- 
man, Isaac Churchill, Sylvanus Bartlett. 

For Capt. Harlow 's company : Timothy Ripley, 
Dr. Dean, Benjamin Cushman. 

For Capt. Shaw's company: Nehemiah Cobb, 
Eleazer Crocker, Deacon Lucas. 

For Capt. Hammond's company: Joseph Bar- 
rows, Benjamin Ward. 

It is known that these committees performed 
the work assigned them and made a full report to 
the town. The report was not recorded nor does 
it appear that it was formally adopted. Such a 
paper would have been of great assistance in the 
matter of securing pensions for the veterans, and 
from the historical standpoint the loss is irre- 
parable. Why the paper was not recorded may 
be a matter of conjecture, but upon this point 
Lewis Bradford* speaks plainly, using the word 
*' embezzled" to express his indignation. 

*Lewis Bradford was town clerk of Plympton from 1812 to 
1851. His records are replete with historical sketches, genealogical 
items, and explanations, making the town records of Plympton 
unique and instructive from the historical standpoint. 



98 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Marslifield was the one point in the Old Colony 
where Tory sentiment predominated, and had the 
fortunes of war elected that the initial battle of 
the Revolution should be fought among these hills, 
it is evident the Red Coats would have met with 
a reception even more vehement than they experi- 
enced on Lexington green. When the report that 
a detachment had been sent from Boston to rein- 
force the Crown sympathizers in the neighboring 
town spread, the militaryspirit of the Old Colony 
awoke and there was consequently much excite- 
ment in this region, and on the very day that the 
patriots of Concord and Lexington were ''firing 
the shot heard 'round the world, ' ' nearly two hun- 
dred fellow patriots of Ph^npton were hurrying 
across the country to fire a similar shot in Marsh- 
field. So large a force marching out of so 
sparsely settled a community reads more like a 
crusade than a military uprising, and in so 
unanimous a cause the farmer's wives and daugh- 
ters must have watched the proceedings with in- 
tense interest. 

There are obstacles in the way of obtaining a 
complete and reliable list of the soldiers that 
fought in that war for the credit of Plympton and 
a more or less indefinite list must necessarily fol- 
low. The town records are silent in the matter, 
and there is danger of mistakes from both sides 
of the reckoning in making up the list from the 
pay rolls on file. The fact that a roll was sworn 
to in Plympton, may not be prima facie evidence 
that the soldiers were invariably Plympton sol- 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 99 

diers, and on the contrary the town may have had 
soldiers whose names are lost in the unsystematic 
methods of recording. Often a name appears on 
the rolls many times and it is not always easy to 
determine whether it is a repetition of the same 
person, or a record of two or more soldiers by 
the same name. 

Companies were raised in Plymouth County 
and it is fair to assume, that these embraced 
Plympton soldiers. In justification of this, many 
names appear on these unidentified rolls — names 
that sound familiar — but with nothing to identify 
them they must be omitted from the list. 

There were Plympton* men in at least five 
military companies at the breaking out of hostili- 
ties, and these companies after the march to 
Marshfield, were reorganized and continued in the 
militia during the war. The army was often 
recruited from the ranks of the militia, detach- 
ments, and sometimes the whole company being 
detached to reinforce the Continental army 

*DeboTah Sampson, while not in the service to the credit of 
her native town for well-known reasons, has earned a place in 
Plympton 's story of the Revolution. She was born Dec. 17, 1760, 
a descendant of Governor Bradford, Myles Standish and John 
Alden. In the latter years of the war, dressed in male attire, she 
enlisted at Bellingham for the credit of the town of "Oxbridge 
under the name of Robert Shurtleff. She was severely wounded, 
in 1782, but succeeded in hiding her identity; but, being stricken 
the following year with a fever, she was sent to a hospital in 
Philadelphia, where her physician discovered her sex and caused 
her discbarge. By a special provision her name was added to 
the pension list, and after her death the pension went to her 
husband, Benjamin Gannett, as a "soldier's widow." She was 
specially honored by the state and nation. 



100 HISTORY OF CARVER 

temporarily, to be returned to the ranks of tlie 
militia after the crisis had passed. 

The following commissioned officers were in the 
service at various times during the Eevolutionary 
conflict : 

Capt. William Atwood: Marched with his 
company to Marshfield. 

Capt. John Bradford : Marched with his com- 
pany to Marshfield; continued in the militia as 
Captain in 1775 and 1776, serving as Continental 
agent. 

Capt. John Bridgham : Marched with his com- 
pany to Marshfield ; Captain in the militia in 1775, 
and in Capt. Cotton's company in Rhode Island 
in 1778. 

Capt. George Hammond: Private in Capt. 
Shaw's company at Marshfield; commissioned as 
Captain of the militia in 1776 and serving until 
1778. 

Capt. Thomas Samson: Sergt. in Capt. Brad- 
ford's company at Marshfield; ensign in the 
militia in 1775; Captain of a company of militia 
1776 ; marched with his company to Bristol, R. I., 
on an alarm December, 1776 ; went on a secret ex- 
pedition against Newport, R. I., September- 
October, 1777; Captain in the militia 1778; in 
command of a company in Rhode Island in 1781 
three days. 

Capt. Nathaniel Shaw : Marched with his com- 
pany to Marshfield ; in the militia 1776 ; marched 
with his company to Bristol, R. I., on an alarm 
December, 1776 ; also Captain in the militia 1778. 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 101 

Lieut. Elijah Bisbee, Jr. : Sergt. in Capt. Lor- 
ing's company at Marshfield; Lieutenant in Capt. 
Ebenezer Washburn's company in Rhode Island 
1776; in command of Capt. James Harlow's com- 
pany at Bristol, R. L, 1777 ; at Castle Island 1778. 

Lieut. Nehemiah Cobb: Lieutenant in Capt. 
Bridgham's company at Marshfield; Lieutenant 
in militia 1775 to 1780; in detachment to rein- 
force Continental army in Rhode Island in 1780 
three months. 

Lieut. Joseph Cole: Private in Capt. Shaw's 
company at Marshfield ; commissioned Lieutenant 
1776; Second Lieutenant with Lieut. Frances 
Shurtleff at Bristol; in Capt. Sampson's company 
secret expedition against Newport; Second Lieu- 
tenant, Capt. Ebenezer Washburn's company 
1778. 

Lieut. Joshua Loring: Sergeant and ensign 
1776-77-78; commissioned Lieutenant May 1779; 
in Capt. Jacob Haskins' company 1779-80. 

Lieut. Joshua Perkins : Sergeant in Capt. 
Shaw's company at Marshfield; commissioned 
Lieutenant 1776, Capt. George Hammond's com- 
pany ; in command of a detachment from the com- 
pany that was sent to Bristol, R. I. on an alarm 
in March 1777; Lieutenant in Capt. Hammond's 
company in 1778; also in Capt. Calvin Partridge's 
company stationed at Dorchester Heights 1778. 

Lieut. Zephaniah Perkins : Lieutenant in Capt. 
Thomas Samson's company in 1776; also Lieu- 
tenant in same company at Bristol, 1776 and 1778. 

Lieut. John Shaw: Sergeant in Capt. At- 
wood's company at Marshfield; Second Lieuten- 



102 HISTORY OF CARVER 

ant in Capt. George Hammond's company 1776; 
Second Lieutenant in Capt. Shaw's company at 
Bristol 1776, and in Capt. Hammond's company 
1778. 

Lieut. Frances Shurtleff: Lieutenant in Capt. 
Shaw's company 1776; in command of a detach- 
ment that was sent to Bristol, R. I. on an alarm, 
December, 1776; Lieutenant in Capt. Shaw's com- 
pany 1778. 

Lieut. Silas Sturtevant : Second Lieutenant in 
Capt. Thomas Samson's company, commissioned 
1778; Lieutenant in Capt. Samson's company in 
Rhode Island 1781. 

Lieut. Job Weston: Sergeant, Capt. Loring's 
company Marshfield; Second Lieutenant, Capt. 
James Harlow's company 1776; commissioned 
1776, Second Lieutenant of Capt. James Harlow's 
company commanded by Lieut. Elijah Bisbee, Jr., 
Bristol 1776; Third Lieutenant, Capt. Samson's 
company secret expedition against Newport; 
Second Lieutenant, Capt. James Harlow's com- 
pany 1778; Lieutenant, Capt. Jesse Sturtevant 's 
company detached from militia to reinforce Con- 
tinental army three months in Rhode Island 1780. 

Those whose service was limited to the march 
to Marshfield: 

Capt. William Atwood Salathiel Bumpus 

Sergt. Joseph Atwood Rowland Hammond 

Nathaniel Atwood Bartlett Murdock 

2nd Lieut. Joseph Barrows Thomas IMiixam 

Corp. Simmons Barrows Gideon Perkins 

Jonathan Barrows Robert Sturtevant 
Benjamin Benson 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 



103 



Capt, Thomas Loring 
Ensign Ignatius Loring 
Sergi;. James Churchill 
James Bishop, Jr. 
Nathaniel Bonney, Jr. 
Ebenezer Bonney 
Noah Bosworth 
Winslow Bradford 
Ephraim Bryant 
Joseph Bryant 
Joshua Bryant 
Isaac Churchill, Jr. 
Isaac Churchill, 3d 
John Churchill 
Nathaniel Churchill 
Elkanah Cushman, Jr. 
Isaiah Cushman, Jr. 
Samuel Cushman 
Thomas Cushman 



Abner Hall 
Thomas Harlow 
Job Holmes 
Job Holmes, Jr. 
Joshua Loring 
Josiah Perkins, Jr. 
Luke Perkins 
Nathaniel Pratt, Jr. 
Jonathan Rickard 
Nathaniel Rider 
Joseph Ripley 
Josiah Ripley 
Timothy Ripley, Jr. 
Henry Samson 
Noah Sturtevant 
Zadok Weston 
Elisha Whitten, Jr. 
Adam Wright 
Benjamin Wright 



(In Capt. Bradford's company). 
Corp. Issacher Bisbee Heman Crocker 

Sylvanus Bartlett Isaac Cushman 

Nathaniel Churchill Joel Ellis 

Stephen Churchill 

(In Capt. Bridgham's company), 



Daniel Pratt 
Eleazer Robbins 
Jolin Shaw 
David Wood 



Sergt. Bartlett IMurdock 
Ephraim Griffith 
Simeon Holmes 
Joseph Lucas 

(In Capt. Shaw's company). 
Sergt. Eleazer Crocker Caleb Atwood 

Sergt. Elisha Lucas John Atwood 

Corp. Eleazer Rickard, Jr. James Doten 
Drummer Isaiah Tillson Sylvanus Dunham 



104 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Daniel Faunce John Shurtleff 

Nehemiah Lucas Edward Stevens, Jr. 

John Riekard John Stevens 

Benjamin Shaw Daniel Vaughan, Jr. 

Benjamin Shaw, Jr. Joseph Vaughan 

Jonathan Shaw David Wood 

Those whose service was limited to the detach- 
ment under Lieut. Frances Shurtleff to Bristol, 
E. I., in December, 1776 : 
Sergt. Consider Chase Nehemiah Cobb 

Sergt. Timothy Cobb David Ransom, Jr. 

Those whose service was limited to Capt. 
Thomas Samson 's company that marched to Bris- 
tol, R. L, in 1776 : 

Drum. Shadrach Standish Isaac Loring 
John Bradford James Magoon 

John Churchill Asaph Soule 

Those whose service was limited to the march 
to Bristol, R. I., under Lieut. Elijah Bisbee, Jr., 
in 1777: 

Sergt. Joel Ellis, Jr. Elisha "Whitton 

Joshua Loring Joseph Wright 

Corp. Nathaniel Sherman Samuel Wright, 2nd 

Those whose service was limited to the detach- 
ment under Lieut. Joshua Perkins, which went to 
Bristol, R. I., in 1777 : 
Sergt. Joseph Barrows Ellis Griffith 

Corp. Simeon Barrows Bartlett Murdock 

Those whose services was limited to Capt. Sam- 
son 's secret expedition against Newport in 1777: 
Isaac Bisbee Samuel Bradford 

Jonathan Barrows Benjamin Ransom 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 105 



Those whose service was limited to Capt. Sam- 
son's three days expedition to Ehode Island in 
1781 : 



Levi Atwood 
WiUiam Cobb 
Edmund Cole, Jr. 
Benjamin Bosworth 
Consider Briant 
Caleb Churchill 
Samuel Fuller 
Ichabod Hatch 
"William Harlow 

Those at Marshfield 
militia : 
Caleb Atwood 
Abner Barrows 
William Barrows 
Abner Bisbee, Corp. 
George Bisbee, Corp. 
Issacher Bisbee, Corp. 
John Bisbee 
Noah Bisbee 
James Bishop 
Samuel Bonney 
Simeon Bonney 
Perez Bradford 
Gideon Bradford, Jr. 
John Bridgham, Jr., Sergt, 
Benjamin Bryant, Corp. 
Levi Bryant, Fifer 
Zenas Bryant, Drummer 
Benjamin Cobb, Corp. 
Jonathan Cobb 
Nathan Cobb 



Joshua Palmer 
Josiah Parrish 
Calvin Perkins 
Ebenezer Ransom, Jr. 
Frances Ripley 
Asa Soule 
Zephaniah Soule 
Caleb Sturtevant 
Eliphalet Waterman 

and other services in the 

Samuel Cobb 
John Chamberlain, Corp. 
Daniel Churchill, Jr. 
Ebenezer Churchill 
Elias Churchill 
John Churchill 
Joshua Churchill 
William Churchill 
Joseph Crocker, Corp. 
Benjamin Cushman 
Jacob Cushman 
Josiah Cushman 
Zaehariah Cushman 
Amaziah Doten 
John Dunham 
Silas Dunham 
Freeman Ellis, Sergt. 
Stephen Ellis 
Nathaniel Fuller 
John Fuller 



106 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Barnabas Harlow, Corp. 
Nathaniel Harlow 
Ebenezer Lobdell, Corp. 
Caleb Loring 

Ignatius Loring, Jr., Fifer 
Ezekiel Loring, 2nd Lieut. 
Elijah Lucas 
Samuel Lucas 
John IMuxain 
Joseph Perkins 
Josiah Perkins 
Ebenezer Ransom 
Elijah Ransom * 
Joseph Ransom 
Isaac Rickard 
Lemuel Rickard 
Theodore Rickard 
Isaiah Ripley 
Samuel Ripley, Corp. 
Peleg Samson 

Those who served at Marshfield and later in the 
Continental army: 
WilUam Cobb 
Ebenezer Dunham 
Simeon Dunham 
Issacher Fuller 
Lazarus Harlow 
Barnabas Lucas 
Elijah McFarlin 

Those who served at Marshfield and in Capt. 
Samson's secret expedition against Newport: 
Josiah Chandler Edward Stevens 

Ebenezer Cushman Jacob Wright 

Gideon Samson 



Zabdial Samson 

Ambrose Shaw 

Caesar Smith 

Ebenezer Soule, Corp. 

Zachariah Standish 

Lemuel Stevens 

William Stevens 

Cornelius Sturtevant, Ser, 

Frances Sturtevant, Corp. 

Isaiah Thomas 

Ichabod Tillson, Drummer 

John Tillson 

Benj. Ward, 2nd Lieut. 

Jabez Weston 

Isaac Wright 

Joseph Wright 

Joseph Wright 

Levi Wright 

Samuel Wright 



Daniel Soule 
Silas Sturtevant 
William Sturtevant 
Peter Thayer 
Benjamin Tubbs 
John Washburn 




HON. BENJAMIN ELLIS 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 107 

Those who served at Marshfield and with Lieut. 
Joshua Perkins at Bristol : 

Andrew Barrows Abial Shurtleff 

Peleg Barrows, Corp. Joshua Totman 

James Murdock, Lieut. William Washburn, Sergt. 

Jabez Muxam 

Those who served at Marshfield and with Lieut. 
Frances Shurtleff at Bristol : 

Hezekiah Cole Thomas Savery 

Isaac Shaw Lucas Benjamin Shurtleff, Jr. 

John Lucas Daniel Vaughan 

Eleazer Robbins Samuel Vaughan, Sergt. 

Those who served in the militia and later in the 
Continental army: 

Asa Barrows Eleazer Holmes 

Barnabas Cobb Jonathan Holmes 

Roland Cobb George Harlow 

Ephraim Cole* John King 

Joseph Chamberlain Isaac Lucas 

Joshua Churchill Ezra Perry 

Stephen Churchill Ephraim Pratt 

Thomas Doten Ebenezer Standish, Corp. 

Thomas Doty Moses Standish 

Noah Fuller Asa Sturtevant 

Benjamin Fuller Isaac Tinkham 



*Ephraim Cole, Joseph Chamberlain, Thomas Doty, John King, 
Barnabas Lucas, Benjamin Lucas, Elijah Eickard, William Sturte- 
vant and William Whiting are known to have been in camp at 
Valley Forge. Cole, and possibly others, died there. 



108 



HISTORY OF CA.RVER 



Those who served in the militia for varying 
periods; some probably served in detachments 
that reinforced the Continental army at critical 
times : 



Ichabod Atwood 
Stephen Atwood 
Ephraim Barrows 
Malachi Barrows 
Carver Barrows 
Moses Barrows 
Jolin Bartlett 
Jephtha Benson 
Calvin Bradford 
William Bradford 
Daniel Bumpus 
David Bumpus 
Seth Bump 

Benjamin Briant, Corp. 
Joshua Briant 
Nathan Briant 
Samuel Bridgham 
Gersham Cole 
Zebedee Chandler 
David Churchill 
Ebenezer Churchill 
Elias Churchill 
Joseph Churchill 
John Churchill, Sergt. 
Timothy Churchill 
Benjamin Crocker 
Isaiah Cushman 
William Cushman 
Seth Doten 



Asa Dunham 
Israel Dunham 
Robert Harlow 
Ezekiel Johnson 
Seth Johnson 
Isaac Lobdel 
Simeon Loring 
Abijah Lucas 
Asahel Lyon 
Joseph McFarlin 
William Morrison 
Ephraim Morse 
Steven Raymond 
Elijah Richards, Corp. 
Abner Rickard 
Eleazer Rickard 
Eleazer Ripley 
David Shurtleff 
Gideon Shurtleff 
Ephraim Soule 
James Soule 
Sylvanus Stevens 
Nehemiah Sturtevant 
Ephraim Tinkham 
Joseph Wliitten 
Joseph Wright 
Joshua Wright 
Zadok Wright 



PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION 



109 



Those who served at Marshfield, in the militia, 
and in the Continental army : 
John Barnes Abner Harlow 

Benjamin Blossom Asa Hooper 

Jacob Bryant ?^amuel Lucas, 3d 

Caleb Cushman Noah Pratt 

Elijah Dunham "William Ripley 

Those whose service was limited to the Con- 
tinental army who served for periods of various 
lensfths : 



John Appling 
Benjamin Barrows 
Malachi Barrows 
John Bates 
Ehiathan Benson 
Reuben Bisbee 
Isaac Bonney 
James Bonney 
Oliver Bradford 
Sylvanus Brimhall 
Ford Bryant 
Luther Bryant 
Luther Bryant 
Patrick Bryant, Sergt. 
Samuel Bryant 
Joseph Chamberlain 
Stephen Churchill 
Andrew Cushman 
Isaiah Cushman 
Thomas Cushman, Jr., Corp. 
Zebedee Cushman 
James Dunham, Jr. 



Noah Eaton 

William Gardner 

Ellis Griffith 

Ferdinand Hall, Drum 

major 
Elijah Harlow (died) 
James Harlow 
William Harlow 
Eleazer Holmes 
Jonathan Holmes, Corp. 
Barnabas Jackson 
Jacob Loring 
Benjamin Lucas 
Consider Lucas 
Elisha Lucas 
Ephraim Lucas 
Zebedee Lyon 
David McFarlin (died) 
Elijah McFarlin 
John Morris (died) 
Elisha Morton 
Pero Murder* (negro) 



'Discharged by General Washington for meritorious service. 



110 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Edward Murdock 
Jesse Murdock 
Swanzey Murdock 
Prince Newport (negro) 
Ebenezer Perkins 
John Perkins 
Josiah Perkins 
Consider Pratt 
Benjamin Pratt 
Nathaniel Pratt 
Elijah Rickard 
Frances Ripley 
Jacob Loring Ruggles 
William Sampson 
Ichabod Shurtleff 
Peleg Standish 



Caleb Stetson 
David Sturtevant 
Frances Sturtevant, Jr. 
John Taylor (died) 
Isaac Thayer 
Joseph Tinkliam 
Robert Waterman 
Samuel West 
William Whiting 
Isaac Whitten 
William Whitten 
Ebenezer Wright 
Edmund Wright 
Joseph Wright 
Joseph Wright 
Nathan Wright 




Ill ri' McKAK'LiiN 



THE CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 

The history of this society to the close of the 
ministry of Rev. John Howland, is identical with 
the history of the Precinct. The last years of the 
Howland ministry marked the beginning of the 
dissolution of the Precinct and from that period 
societies and sects began to multiply. 

After the death of that remarkable man who 
had watched over the society from 1744 to 1805, 
the church faced the problem of choosing his suc- 
cessor and that at a time when it was weakened 
by dissensions. After trying in vain to reach a 
settlement with Lothrop Thompson and Gaines 
Conant, John Shaw was ordained October 7, 1807, 
and became the third ordained minister of the 
church. The new pastor was destined to pass 
through a trying ordeal which should tax his re- 
sources, involve him in debt, and at the same time 
bring out the tact and compromising spirit that 
mark him as a worthy successor to John Howland. 
Financial troubles at length compelled him to re- 
sign and at a Council in 1815, he was formally dis- 
missed. There was still a tender feeling between 
pastor and people and he left the charge with a 
hearty recommendation from the church. 

Doctrinal disputes had appeared with the incep- 
tion of baptism in the Precinct a quarter century 
previous to the ministry of Shaw. For a time 

111 



112 HISTORY OF CARVER 

the dominating spirits of the cliiirch kept a ruling 
hand on the situation, but as the devotees of the 
new faith increased in numbers, the cleavage be- 
came more marked, and only the diplomatic 
powers of Howland kept up the semblance of 
union. And these disputes came as a legacy to 
Howland 's successor, and to break out anew and 
to ultimately divide the Precinct after Shaw left 
the ministry. 

There was a desire on the part of the majority 
to see the union continued, and this desire was 
shared by the Baptists. But there were doctrinal 
reasons which stood in the way of a lasting union. 
An early attempt was made to avert disintegration 
by the abrogation of the 12th article of faith* 
whenever a Baptist was admitted to the church 
membership. An amendment reserving the right 
to convince the new member of the error of his 
ways by argument pacified the radicals, and prob- 
ably a more effective way of keeping alive the 
embers of discord could not have been devised. 
This article was the rock on which the societies 
split. Benjamin Shurtleff, a leading member of 
the old society, petitioned his church to expunge 
the article from its creed, but after a long hearing 
the petition was turned down and Shurtleff had no 
alternative but to withdraw and join the Baptist 
society. 

For twelve years after Shaw left the ministry 
of the old society, and Cummings the ministry of 
the new society, there was no ordained pastor over 

*The 12th Article of faith related to infant baptism. 




IIEXUY iSllEUMAN 



CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 113 

either. Church meetings were regularly held and 
each society manoeuvred for itself, but the meet- 
ings were so lightly attended that the leaders be- 
came alarmed and their united efforts fanned the 
memorable revival of 1823. Rev. Luther Wright 
was stationed over the societies and September 
14th was set apart as a day when all of the com- 
municants should go forward and acknowledge 
their sins. Accordingly at the appointed time, 
the church was filled and when the invitation was 
given all left their seats and standing in the aisles, 
assented to a long confession read by the minister. 

This signal for an awakening was followed 
through the following winter by protracted meet- 
ings, at which numerous ministers lent their as- 
sistance and many conversions were made. At 
least two days of fasting, humiliation and prayer 
were observed, Christmas, 1823, and February 5th, 
1824. A committee was appointed to look after 
delinquents, with special instructions to learn why 
the residents of the South had habitually absented 
themselves from the house of worship. As a re- 
sult of this revival twenty-eight joined the church. 
And now arose the subject of apportioning the 
time of services between the two societies. At a 
meeting in the North school house. Deacon 
Thomas Hammond, whose residence was near the 
Central Temple and who was a Proprietor of that 
building, argued for services in both buildings, 
but no vote was taken. 

At a subsequent meeting, it was decided to hold 
one-third of the services in the Central building, 
but the ultras rallied, reconsidered, and voted to 



114 HISTORY OF CARVER 

join with the Precinct and engage a minister to 
preach all of the time in the Temple near the Green 
and to petition the Domestic Missionary Society 
for assistance. But so weak was the old society 
financially, and so alarmingly were the signs of 
incohesiveness, that the conservatives appealed to 
outside ministers for advice. In response to this 
appeal a committee of ministers investigated the 
conditions and advised committees from the differ- 
ent sections of the town to get together, select 
a Board of Reconciliation, and pledge each other 
to stand by the decision. The old society, acting 
upon this advice, named a committee to confer 
with a like committee of the Baptist society. Un- 
der the proposed terms of reconciliation, the Coun- 
cil was to revise the articles of faith and establish 
plans and places of holding public services. The 
two committees went about their duties with en- 
thusiasm, but the Baptists were unyielding on one 
point, and that point happened to be the one 
obstacle in the way of union. They were willing 
to commit the matter of time and place for hold- 
ing public services, but on the question of infant 
baptism they had nothing to arbitrate. It is ap- 
parent that both societies were suspicious, for 
when the orthodox committee reported to its 
sponsors, naming the Council, its report was re- 
jected and a new committee appointed to name the 
personnel of the proposed Council. 

The arbitration board as finally agreed upon, 
was composed of Rev. Abel Richmond of Halifax, 
Rev. Oliver Cobb of Rochester, Rev. Richard S. 
Storrs of Braintree, Rev. Sylvester Holmes of 



CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 115 

New Bedford and Eev. Frederick Freeman of Ply- 
mouth. The Council convened and gave the town 
its best efforts, but the cleavage over the 12th 
article could not be bridged and the dream of one 
church in town did not come true. Thus, while 
the societies could not formally unite, they 
travelled peacefully together for a while listening 
to the same discourse, worshipping in the same 
meeting house, while each proceeded to build 
stronger its sectarian walls. 

The Baptists were not the only heretics the old 
society was called upon to combat. Methodism 
appeared about 1830 and two years later, Phebe 
Shurtleff asked for her dismissal in order to join 
the Eeformed Methodist Society. A committee 
was chosen to convince her of the error of her 
ways, but the committee proved powerless. Miss 
Shurtleff was immovable, and there was no alter- 
native but to vote her dismissal. 

Still another and more alarming epidemic broke 
out in 1835, when Louisa L. T. Chase was con- 
verted to the views of Emanuel Swedenborg. 
This was regarded as a serious matter, and 
Deacon Nathan Cobb, Ebenezer Cobb and Levi 
Vaughan were delegated to handle the case with 
power to call on ministers of other towns for ad- 
vice and assistance. After laboring in vain to 
convince Mrs. Chase of her mistake, the committee 
called Rev. Elijah Dexter of Plympton and Rev. 
Emerson Paine of Middleboro in consultation. A 
special church meeting was called and after con- 
sidering the case, the heretic was excommunicated. 



116 HISTORY OF CARVER 

In 1841, several members of the church entered 
the ranks of the Millerites and in consequence 
were excommunicated. Again in 1853, Thomas 
Cushman j&led accusations against Mary Fuller, 
charging her with false and erroneous doctrines. 
After a hearing, at which it was shown that she 
had rejected one of the articles of faith and been 
converted to the doctrine of Universalism, she was 
expelled. 

It will be noted, that the period extending from 
1830 to 1850 was prolific with heresy and the re- 
sult was the final separation of the church in 
Carver. Methodism had gained a foothold in the 
South; Baptism held the Centre; Advents and 
Universalists had laid the foundation for a follow- 
ing and even Spiritualism had claimed its own. 
And worn out by seventy-five years of incessant 
fighting for unity, the old society relinquished its 
claims contemporaneously with the agitation for a 
new church building at the North end of the parish 
and under the ministry of Eev. Stillman Pratt, the 
First Church of Carver entered upon its modern 
career. 

Following the custom of churches in the earlier 
days, this society kept a watchful eye over tlie 
moral welfare of its members. At times the com- 
mittee on discipline had a crowded docket and fre- 
quent meetings were necessary to relieve the 
docket. In most cases the defendant confessed 
and was immediately restored to good standing. 
Many were the chastisements for unchristian con- 
duct, but little of a serious nature appears to have 
been charged against the communicants. Petty 



CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 117 

cases which another generation would appeal to 
the courts were taken up by the church, and again 
and again small disputes were adjusted to the 
satisfaction of all parties without recourse to the 
civil tribunal. 

John Maxim, Jr., proved a most stubborn de- 
fendant on doctrinal grounds. Complaint having 
been filed against him ''for disorderly walk inas- 
much as he had, as it appeared, rejected the lead- 
ing articles of faith to which he had assented when 
he became a member of the church, and had not 
attended public worship in the church, or com- 
muned with them for a number of years. ' ' Though 
a messenger was despatched to notify Maxim of 
the indictment, he refused to appear for trial and 
regarding the case as hopeless he was excom- 
municated. 

The case of the eccentric but brilliant James 
Savery* was the most noted of the church trials 
of this society. Charged with ''unchristian walk 
and conversation, particularly in absenting him- 
self from the house of worship, traveling here and 
there on the Lord's Day, unchristian feeling and 
conversation towards those of his brethren who 
had labored to redeem him," he became the topic 
for discussion throughout the Precinct. 

Previous steps had been taken to redeem him, 
both on the part of the brethren and the church, 
when it was decided to take the third gospel step 

*While a man of sterling character, James Savery was so 
eccentric as to antagonize the conventionality of common folks. 
With Albert Shurtleff he shocked the thoughtless people of the 
to\vn, by voting for abolition long before the rank and file could 
see anything objeetional in chattel slavery. 



118 HISTORY OF CARVER 

and he was suspended until sucli time as he should 
make Christian satisfaction. After five years of 
rebellion he went forward, confessed his mis- 
demeanors and was restored to fellowship. Again 
he came before the disciplinarians when, in 1823, 
a committee was named to labor with him in re- 
gard to making a disturbance in the choir, and 
failing to come to an agreement, Nathan Cobb was 
detailed to call on him and respectfully request 
him not to sing in such a manner as to interrupt 
the singers. The following year he faced trial on 
an indictment of four counts as follows filed by 
Bennett Cobb: 

Cutting wood on the Lord's Day. 

Disturbing the choir by irregular manners. 

Casting reflections upon the singers. 

Disturbing the religious services of the young. 

After a patient hearing during which the de- 
fendant was unyielding, Savery the eccentric, was 
excommunicated. Still belligerent he continued 
the contest, until his case went up on appeal to a 
Council of Ministers. In this Council he was over- 
ruled, the church proceedings covering the trial 
were adjudged regular, and in 1831 he made a full 
confession and was restored to fellowship in the 
church. 

Rev. Stillman Pratt was the first installed min- 
ister over the society after Rev. Plummer Chase, 
and he was destined to make the most lasting im- 
pression of the pastors who followed Rev. John 
Shaw. During the larger part of the intervening 
time, ministers had been supplied by the com- 
mittees with no settled pastor much of the time. 



CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 119 

Chase seems to have been a strong character, 
whose influence was exerted on both the religions 
and civil affairs of the community. He was in- 
stalled in 1828 and remained with the society seven 
years. Reverends Luther Wright, Paul Jewett 
and Jonathan King held brief sway. 

Rev. Stillman Pratt was ordained August 2d, 
1851, by the largest Council that met in the parish, 
presided over by the veteran, Israel W. Putnam 
of Middleboro. This ministry may be considered 
the dividing line between the two societies, al- 
though the friendly feeling continued, resulting in 
occasional joint services in the Central Temple. 
Pratt was engaged with the understanding that he 
should reside at the Nosth end of the parish and 
devote all of his time to the society at the Green. 
Thus this ministry may be called the beginning of 
the local history of the Congregationalist Church 
Society. 

The first year of the new ministry was 
eminently successful, although at the cost of the 
health of the pastor. One-third of his time was 
devoted to a Boston periodical, from which source 
he derived one-third of his income. But the in- 
convenience of getting to and from the city, com- 
pelled him to give up that part of his labor and 
his second year was devoted solely to the society. 
Mr. Pratt resigned in 1854. 

His successor. Rev. Nathaniel Coggswell, re- 
mained over the society until 1857. The main fea- 
ture of this ministry, was the preliminary steps 
towards the erection of a new church edifice which, 
however, was not realized until two years later. 



120 HISTORY OF CARVER 



MINISTERS 

Rev. Othniel Campbell (ord.) 1732—1744 

Rev. John Howland (ord.) 1746—1805 

Rev. John Shaw. (ord.) 1806—1815 

Rev. Luther "Wright 1823—1824 

Rev. Nathaniel Barker 1825—1826 

Rev. Seth Chapin 1827 

Rev. Plummer Chase (ord.) 1828—1835 

Rev. Paul Jewett 1836—1838 

Rev. Jonathan King 1839—1841 

Rev. E. W. Robinson 1846 

Rev. E. Gay 1847 

Rev. Stillman Pratt (ord.) 1851—1854 

Rev. Nathaniel Coggswell 1855—1857 

Rev. W. C. Whitcomb 1858 

Rev. Greenwood 1859 

Rev. John Moore 1860 

Rev. Henry L. Chase (ord.) 1864—1867 

Rev. H. P. Leonard 1868 

Rev. W. W. Livingston (ord.) 1873—1878 

Rev. H. P. Leonard 1880—1881 

Rev. Charles F. Goldsmith 1883—1884 

Rev. Nehemiah Lincoln 1888—1891 

Rev. Oscar F. Stetson (ord.) 1902—1909 

Rev. James J. G. Tarr 1911— 




O CO 

O ^ 

c 



THE SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 

The South Precinct of Plympton covered a much 
larger area than that embraced by the old society, 
with the principal settlements in the extreme 
North, and the new society was not destined long 
to travel without dissensions. As the farmers 
spread out over the Southlands, the cast-iron cus- 
tom of going to church soon led to discontent on 
the part of those who resided at a distance from 
the house of worship, and in less than forty years 
from the raising of the church building at Laken- 
ham, appeared an agitation for still another tem- 
ple in the Southern section of the Precinct. 

A subscription paper was in circulation in 1772, 
and at a meeting of the subscribers that year 
Joshua Benson, John Shaw, Bartlett Murdock, 
Benjamin Ward, and Joseph Barrows were named 
as a building committee. The hill north of the 
residence of Peleg Barrows was selected as the 
site, and to guard against extortion the following 
prices for labor and materials were established by 
vote of the subscribers: Carpenters 3s, 3f per 
day; narrow axe men 2s, 4d, 3f ; teaming 6s, 8d; 
oak timber 4s, 4d, per ton; merchantable boards 
IL, 17s, 4d; one and one-fourth inch boards 21L, 
6s, 8d, per ton. The size of the building was to be 

121 



122 HISTORY OP CARVER 

42 by 37 and Benjamin Ward* was authorized to 
raise it and finish the outside. 

The following year, the subscribers assumed the 
style of Proprietors, and voted to build the build- 
ing by pews, the amount subscribed to be adjusted 
with the amount bid for the pew. Fifty men were 
appointed to raise the structure and by way of a 
guarantee, the Proprietors voted to purchase two 
barrels of rum and to furnish it in sufficient 
quantities to both workmen and spectators. By 
October, 1774, the building was so far completed 
that the first legal meeting was held within its 
walls, at which John Shaw was chosen moderator 
and Joseph Bridgham vendue-master. Nearly all 
of the subscribers became Proprietors by virtue 
of bidding in a pew and they, with their successors, 
were the owners of the meeting house. 

A two-story building of massive oak frame 
formed the material body of the Temple. The 
pulpit was on the east side with the main entrance 
from the west. The pews were of the style of the 
times, painted white with mahogany trimmings, 
while a huge sounding board assisted the minister 
in reaching the ears of the auditors. 

As soon as the building was fitted for public 
meetings, began a half century struggle between 
the South Meadow folks and the rulers of the 
Precinct. In July, 1775, a special meeting was 
called to see if the Precinct would vote to instruct 



*At this celebrated "raising" Benjamin Ward performed a 
feat that has been handed down in folklore. After the frame was 
raised, he startled the spectators by shouldering his broad axe 
and ascending the ladder he walked the plate from corner to 
corner. 



SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 123 

Eev. John Howland to hold a part of the weekly 
services in the South meeting house. The 
proposition was defeated by a vote of 26 to 20, 
whereupon another meeting was called to act upon 
reconsideration and this also was defeated by the 
narrow margin of 21 to 20. So persistent were 
the agitators, that in October the minister was in- 
structed to preach one-fourth of the time in the 
new meeting house. This was only a temporary 
move and at the next March meeting, the Precinct 
voted to raise ten pounds by taxation ' ^ to help the 
sufferers at the South end to preaching." A 
similar grant was made the following three years, 
then came the Eevolutionary period with sixty-two 
pounds in 1779 and two hundred sixty-two pounds 
in 1780. 

About this time the war against the rates de- 
veloped and further appropriations may be re- 
garded in the nature of compromises, but as in 
numerous historic parallels they served only to 
fan the embers of discontent. 

In 1785 no appropriation for preaching was 
granted, but in lieu of it ten pounds was raised 
for the purpose of abating the taxes of those who 
resided most remote from the regular meeting 
house, while it was further voted to indemnify the 
Collector should he be put to unnecessary expense 
in collecting the taxes south of the river. The 
year following, Barzilla Besse, Peter Shurtleff and 
Jabez Muxom, who resided towards Tihonet were 
exempted provided they paid taxes in Wareham, 
and the Precinct voted to support preaching in the 
new meeting house in proportion to taxes paid 



124 HISTORY OF CARVER 

into the treasury by residents south of the river. 

In 1788 preaching one-fourth of the time was 
granted the South, but the spirit of another age 
was spreading and liberal as these concessions 
may appear, the Precinct had to redeem its 
promise to protect its Collector and before the 
year ended, it was flatly voted to have no preach- 
ing outside of the regular meeting house. 

The mutineers stood firm and in 1792 the rates 
against the following were abated: John Shaw, 
Bartlett Murdock, Simeon Holmes, Roland Ham- 
mond, Capt. Ward, Joseph Atwood, Bartlett Mur- 
dock, Jr., John Shaw, Jr., Ichabod Tillson, Carver 
Barrows, Benjamin White, Ebenezer Dunham, 
Crispus Shaw, Samuel Atwood, Gideon Perkins, 
John Atwood, Ephraim Griffith, Ephraim Grifiith, 
Jr., George Hammond, Benjamin Tubbs, Frances 
Bent and Jonathan Shaw. This may be con- 
sidered the end of the serious attempt of the 
Precinct to tax the people south of the river. 
While the form continued nearly forty years, the 
assessments were optional with the tax-payer, the 
clause ''provided it can be collected" was added 
to the assessments, while the amounts annually 
raised to replace the taxes that could not be col- 
lected, was an admission that the old regime had 
passed away. And before the dawn of the 19th 
century, the Precinct having given up the struggle, 
and the town voting a year later not to support 
the minister by a town tax, the Proprietors were 
left with a free hand. No theology appears to 
have disturbed their dreams, but their meeting 
house was there, and the congregation — let him 



SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 125 

preach who would. Thus the Baptists found a 
forum and still later when the church had been 
divided and sub-divided, bolder heretics found a 
hearing in this Temple. Aside from the problem 
of public services, the Proprietors passed through 
a stormy career — forever wrestling with the mat- 
ter of repairs. The first fifteen years saw the 
physical structure stand the test, while all efforts 
were centred in an attempt to consecrate the 
Temple to public worship, but as the builders 
passed and their work began to decay, the troubles 
of the sons multiplied. As a matter of fact, the 
building was never finished according to original 
plans for while agents were periodically appointed 
to collect arrearages and sell pews for the pur- 
pose of raising funds with which to finish the 
meeting house, the ledger accounts bear witness to 
the obstacles that beset the workers. To accom- 
plish this end, merchandise of any description was 
acceptable and iron ware was gladly hailed as 
legal tender. 

In 1792 a rally was made, which continued 
through two decades. An heroic effort was made 
to raise funds by placing new pews on the market, 
but there were already pews enough to meet the 
demand. Ichabod Benson and Nathaniel Atwood 
were persistent dunners, but they barely suc- 
ceeded in collecting enough from back assessments 
to make imperative repairs. Thus after a fruit- 
less effort to place their meeting house on a more 
satisfactory footing, the Proprietors lost heart 
and they were ready to listen to proposals that 
would have been spurned by their fathers. 



124 HISTORY OF CARVER 

into the treasury by residents south of the river. 

In 1788 preaching one-fourth of the time was 
granted the South, but the spirit of another age 
was spreading and liberal as these concessions 
may appear, the Precinct had to redeem its 
promise to protect its Collector and before the 
year ended, it was flatly voted to have no preach- 
ing outside of the regular meeting house. 

The mutineers stood firm and in 1792 the rates 
against the following were abated: John Shaw, 
Bartlett Murdock, Simeon Holmes, Roland Ham- 
mond, Capt. Ward, Joseph Atwood, Bartlett Mur- 
dock, Jr., John Shaw, Jr., Ichabod Tillson, Carver 
Barrows, Benjamin White, Ebenezer Dunham, 
Crispus Shaw, Samuel Atwood, Gideon Perkins, 
John Atwood, Ephraim Griffith, Ephraim Griffith, 
Jr., George Hammond, Benjamin Tubbs, Frances 
Bent and Jonathan Shaw. This may be con- 
sidered the end of the serious attempt of the 
Precinct to tax the people south of the river. 
While the form continued nearly forty years, the 
assessments were optional with the tax-payer, the 
clause ''provided it can be collected" was added 
to the assessments, while the amounts annually 
raised to replace the taxes that could not be col- 
lected, was an admission that the old regime had 
passed away. And before the dawn of the 19th 
century, the Precinct having given up the struggle, 
and the town voting a year later not to support 
the minister by a town tax, the Proprietors were 
left with a free hand. No theology appears to 
have disturbed their dreams, but their meeting 
house was there, and the congregation — let him 



SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 125 

preach who would. Thus the Baptists found a 
forum and still later when the church had been 
divided and sub-divided, bolder heretics found a 
hearing in this Temple. Aside from the problem 
of public services, the Proprietors passed through 
a stormy career — forever wrestling with the mat- 
ter of repairs. The first fifteen years saw the 
physical structure stand the test, while all efforts 
were centred in an attempt to consecrate the 
Temple to public worship, but as the builders 
passed and their work began to decay, the troubles 
of the sons multiplied. As a matter of fact, the 
building was never finished according to original 
plans for while agents were periodically appointed 
to collect arrearages and sell pews for the pur- 
pose of raising funds with which to finish the 
meeting house, the ledger accounts bear witness to 
the obstacles that beset the workers. To accom- 
plish this end, merchandise of any description was 
acceptable and iron ware was gladly hailed as 
legal tender. 

In 1792 a rally was made, which continued 
through two decades. An heroic effort was made 
to raise funds by placing new pews on the market, 
but there were already pews enough to meet the 
demand. lehabod Benson and Nathaniel Atwood 
were persistent dunners, but they barely suc- 
ceeded in collecting enough from back assessments 
to make imperative repairs. Thus after a fruit- 
less effort to place their meeting house on a more 
satisfactory footing, the Proprietors lost heart 
and they were ready to listen to proposals that 
would have been spurned by their fathers. 



126 HISTORY OF CARVER 

In the preceding forty years momentous 
changes had transpired, chief among them so far 
as this story is concerned the Colonies had de- 
veloped into a nation and the Precinct into a 
town. The area of the new town was dotted with 
settlements, the church was divided, thrifty fur- 
naces were in operation at Popes Point, Federal 
and Charlotte around which clustered happy 
villages, and the theory that there should be a 
more united work on the part of the young town 
than could be expected with so many struggling 
societies gained ground. In 1820 a meeting of the 
Proprietors was called on petition of Benjamin 
Ellis et. al., to see if said Proprietors would vote 
to tear down their meeting house and build one in 
the centre of the town. The meeting assembled, 
the question debated with that seriousness its im- 
portance deserved, when it was decided by a vote 
of 10 to 7 to surrender the Temple and rebuild 
near the Centre provided the North would do the 
same. This was a safe proposition for the seven 
remonstrants, for the North was strongly 
orthodox, the Centre Baptist with no taste for 
union meeting houses at that time, and so the 
dream of one church in town passed. 

No alternative was left the Proprietors but to 
rally again. Ben Ellis, Jesse Murdock, Ira Mur- 
dock, John Savery, Nelson Barrows and Huit Mc- 
Farlin — men of nerve and muscle and finance — 
resided around the old meeting house and rather 
than see it go down in ruins, they would infuse 
new life into its creaking joints. A meeting was 
called, regular set of officers elected, assessment 



/ 




SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 127 

voted, the Collector patted on the back, and Jesse 
Murdock, John Bent and Eli Atwood named as 
the committee to put the building in good repair. 
The result was a complete remodeling of the in- 
side, necessary repairs on the outside, paint, door- 
steps, window springs, and on a wave of enthu- 
siasm the old Temple started on its last career 
and its decline, so far as that generation was con- 
cerned. 

Thus passed two more decades and the mortal 
drift had shifted to 1840. Most of the bodies of 
the old Proprietors had been carried into their 
meeting house and from there tenderly through 
the valley to the Western hill, while their descend- 
ants faced the old problem of repairs. 

On petition to John Savery, Esq., a meeting of 
the Proprietors was called to assume the time 
worn burden. The meeting assembled, Joseph Bar- 
rows, clerk, John Bent, second. Treasurer, John 
Savery, Israel Thomas and Ben Ellis repair com- 
mittee, and for lack of material said repair com- 
mittee was clothed with the authority of As- 
sessors, and the meeting adjourned. After two 
more adjournments a quorum was mustered, an 
assessment made, the Treasurer instructed to 
proceed with his duty with all possible speed and 
the meeting adjourned without day. It was a race 
with death and the Proprietors lost. The assess- 
ment was not made, the Treasurer did not report 
for — had they not adjourned without day? 

But there was yet a career of glory for the old 
meeting house. Conditions had changed, men had 
moved, ideals had grown, there were rugged heirs 



128 HISTORY OF CARVER 

of the Patriarchs in the world and while night 
dropped its curtain on the old, the dawn of a new 
career broke upon the old Temple. 

In 1854 a meeting was called and a committee 
composed of Benjamin F. Leonard, Salmon F. 
Jenkins, Eufus C. Freeman and John F. Shaw 
instructed to remodel the meeting house. No re- 
pairs this time, no setting of glass or patching of 
roof or building of ''more seats under the woman's 
stairs," but a revolution. In place of the 
auditorium, a dance hall; in place of the pulpit, 
a Moderator's cage; in place of the forum of 
peace, a magazine of war. And so out of the 
centre of preachings and funerals grew the centre 
of mirth, of political gatherings and preparations 
for civil strife. Thus the meeting house of 1772 
gave way to Bay State hall and town house of 
1854. 

While the outward form of the building was un- 
changed the inside was completely remodeled. 
The pulpit and gallery were removed and a second 
floor laid. On the upper floor a stairway, hallway 
and two spacious ante-rooms took up the north 
end, while a large hall occupied the remainder of 
the space. The large oak braces gave the room a 
lordly air, while the martial spirit was roused by a 
row of glittering muskets that stood in their racks 
across the south end of the hall. 

About three-fourths of the lower floor on the 
south side was fitted as an auditorium for town 
and other public uses. On the east side a boarded 
enclosure about ten feet square, was set apart for 
the use of the Moderator and Town Clerk, with an 



SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 129 

aperture in front through which was protruded 
the ballot box. If the Moderator happened to be 
of short statute, his head could barely be seen 
above the board fence, while the ''heeler" who 
lurked around to see whether the voter who ap- 
proached to deposit his ballot in the protruding 
box, voted the white or the buff ballot was amply 
protected by that same oxide red. In the north- 
west corner was enclosed the Selectmen's office 
with its long old table, its library of public docu- 
ments and its cabinet holding the standard of 
weights and measures. In the northeast corner 
was located the powder house — a room set apart 
for muskets, canteens, uniforms and general muni- 
tions of war. 

These halls, both upper and lower, were the 
center of many stirring meetings. Not infre- 
quently one political party would be using one for 
a rally meeting at the same time the other hall 
was being occupied by the opposing party de- 
votees. During the days of Civil war, these halls 
were the centre of activity. Here meetings were 
held to stir the patriotism of the young; here 
through many a stormy meeting the town voters 
wrestled with the knotty problems of war. Here 
the optimist and pessimist, the thoughtless and 
the serious, met to don the straps and start for the 
front, and here was the last meeting place of many 
of the boys, who went away with visions of glory 
and returned only in the memories of the friends 
at home. 

For twenty-five years following the close of the 
Civil war, this building continued in its career of 



130 HISTORY OF CARVER 

mirth and glory. Town meetings, political meet- 
ings, dances, temperance societies and various 
public usages kept the old spirit alive. 

Not alone the residents of Carver, but the young 
of surrounding towns availed themselves of its 
spacious rooms and far and near it came justly 
by the name of The Carver Light-House. And 
why not ? For standing on the highest eminence 
between bay and bay the light streaming from its 
windows could be seen from every approach — and 
it stands too on the highest eminence between our 
fathers and us. 

A meeting house built on the pew-holders plan, 
sooner or later drifts into the fog. While enthu- 
siasm lasts the owners are listed, but when en- 
thusiasm lags, proprietors die, and heirs lack in- 
terest to register their claims, and the responsi- 
bility of ownership falls into neglect. 

This meeting house did not escape the common 
lot. For the first twenty years of its life, it was 
in appreciative hands, then came changes in 
ownership to be followed by a decade of uncer- 
tainty. Again in 1825 the legal heirs were hunted 
up and listed, but only for a brief reign, when they 
should again disintegrate to meet no more. A 
feeble attempt was made in 1840 to rouse the 
dying order, but only the final gasp, for rapidly 
after that effort the ownership and care drifted 
away together, leaving to unidentified descendants 
the reconstruction of the ancient edifice. Among 
the proprietors of the first forty years were many 
Baptists, who were prominently identified with 
the Carver society. Following is a list of the Pro- 



SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 131 

prietors, with the year in which they came into 
ownership : 

Original : Peleg Barrows, John Muxom, Joseph 
Barrows, Joshua Benson, Jr., Frances Sturtevant, 
John Shaw, Bartlett Murdock, Ephraim and Ben- 
jamin Ward, William Morison, Salathiel Bumpus 
and William Washburn, Ephraim Griffith and 
Joseph Atwood, Seth Barrows, James Murdock, 
Elkanah Lucas, John Bridgham, Bartlett Mur- 
dock, Bartlett Murdock, Jr., Obadiah Lyon, 
Joshua Benson, John Atwood and Simmons Bar- 
rows, Samuel Lucas and Huit McFarlin, Nathaniel 
Atwood, Jr., and Lieut. Caleb Atwood. (Pew No. 
7 does not appear to have been sold, and pews 
numbers 25 and 26 were not sold until 1792, and 
No. 27 in 1825). In 1782, Thomas Muxom. Jn 
1792, Lieut. Ichabod Benson, Benjamin White and 
Capt. Elisha Murdock, Eobert Shurtleff, Ephraim 
Griffith and Joseph Atwood, and Samuel Atwood. 
In 1794, Ebenezer Shurtleff. In 1805, Benjamin 
Ellis, Ensign Gideon Shurtleff, Ichabod Tillson, 
and Eowland Hammond. In 1816, Thomas Shurt- 
leff, Eli and Jonathan Atwood, George and 
Thomas Barrows and Benjamin Ellis. In 1825, 
John Bent, 2nd. 

Proprietors through gallery pews built in 1792. 
Original : Eowland Leonard and Co., Elezur Lewis, 
Peleg Barrows, Jr., Ebenezer Dunham, Jr., Eli 
Atwood, Capt. Benjamin Ward, Carver Barrows, 
and John Shaw. In 1793, Peter Shurtleff. In 
1794, Lieut. Ichabod Benson, (2 pews), Samuel 
Dunham, John Bumpus, Benjamin Wrightington 



132 HISTORY OF CARVER 

and Elisha Murdock. In 1816, Zadock Wright and 
Elisha Murdock. 

In 1825, Proprietors were listed as follows: 
John Bent, 2nd, Peleg Barrows, Peleg Savery, 
Thomas Shurtleff, John Muxom, Jonathan At- 
wood, Benjamin Ellis, Alvan Shaw, Thomas Till- 
son, Capt. Samuel Shaw, Asaph Atwood, Ira Mur- 
dock, James Ellis, James Shurtleff, Asaph Wash- 
burn, Obed Griffith, Wilson Griffith, Ellis Griffith, 
Silvanus Griffith, Stephen Tillson, John Tillson, 
Luther Tillson, Capt. Elisha Murdock, Elisha 
Murdock, Jr., Lydia Hall, Israel Thomas, Nelson 
Barrows, Joseph Barrows, Luther Atwood, Jesse 
Murdock, Silvanus Shaw, Perez Shaw, Silas Shaw, 
John Bent, Joseph King, Jonathan King, Huit 
McFarlin, Nathaniel Shurtleff, 2nd, John Savery, 
Stephen Griffith, Capt. Eli Atwood, Stephen Cush- 
man, Zoath Wright, James Wright, John Bumpus 
and Benjamin Wrightington. 

Proprietors previous to 1825, whose ownership 
is of uncertain dates: Thomas Hammond, Ben- 
jamin Hammond, Lot Shurtleff, Nathaniel Stand- 
ish. Gen. Ephraim Ward, Col. Benjamin Ward, 
Joseph Ellis, Joshua Atwood, Perez Washburn, 
Luther Atwood, Crispus Shaw, Ichabod Dunham 
and Joseph Robbins. 

There is record of twenty-eight pews on the 
ground floor and twenty in the gallery. Those on 
the ground floor were numbered up to 26, numbers 
27 and 28 being designated as 'Hhe seats where 
the east door entered" and built in 1825. Most 
of the gallery pews were built in 1792, although 
a few were added in later years. 



SOUTH MEETING HOUSE 133 

In 1841 a legal auction was held to sell pews for 
the purpose of raising funds for making repairs. 
At that time pews, or fractions of pews, were sold 
to the following : Jesse Murdock, Thomas South- 
worth, Mary Ellis, Hannah Ellis, Ellis Griffith, 
Hiram Tillson, Zenas Tillson, Aaron Nott and 
Stephen Cushman. 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 

The incorporation of the South Precinct was a 
compromise to save the division of the town which 
the radicals declined to accept. In November, 
1733 and again in March, 1733-34, the town voted 
down a petition of the new town advocates, where- 
upon they filed their petition with the General 
Court. The old town sent Joseph Thomas and 
Samuel Bradford to oppose the movement and 
nothing came of it. The following year a com- 
mittee was named in town meeting to treat with 
the disaffected element, and the temper of the 
advocates of division may be seen in the committee 
report which said: '*we cannot agree upon any- 
thing." In 1738 another petition was entered 
with the General Court, but the petitioners were 
given leave to withdraw and for a half century 
the question was hushed. 

During this period the country was engaged 
with momentous issues, which held the old town 
together. It is evident that the advocates of 
division were residents of South Meadows, the 
Lakenham people standing with the opposition, 
and as the population to the South increased, the 
agitation increased in proportion. During the 
war days it was found advisable to compromise 
with the sentiment and one-third of the town meet- 
ings were held in ''Mr. Howland's meeting house" 

135 



136 HISTORY OF CARVER 

while the South Precinct had been granted some 
of the privileges that go with the full fledged 
town. But as usual, compromises are only post- 
ponements of the main issue and the agitation con- 
tinued. 

In 1780, the question found its way into town 
meeting only to be voted down. Then followed 
our critical period in which questions of finance 
transcended all others — in fact the town may be 
said to be trembling on the verge of bankruptcy — 
but in January, 1788, the people had so far re- 
covered that the question again was forced to the 
front, only to be lost by the decisive vote of 40 
to 7. As the petitioners had entered their petition 
again with the General Court, Deacon Thomas 
Savery, Thomas Gannett, Capt. John Bradford, 
John Chamberlain and Capt. Benjamin Crocker 
were delegated by the town to enter a remon- 
strance. In the following June another petition 
was voted down by the apparent decisive vote of 
33 to 3, but the question would not stay settled. 
The insignificance of the size of the negative vote 
in these two cases only signifies that the advocates 
of division had put the question before the town, 
while they were saving their strength for the final 
issue. February 19, 1790 was a spirited day in 
Plympton, and the days preceding were rife with 
agitation as both factions marshalled their 
strength for the final battle. It is evident the 
advocates of division had carefully measured their 
strength, and that they had also placed the issue 
so clearly before the General Court, that they felt 
positive that their efforts were to be crowned by 




TIIOMA.S llAMMOiXD, JR 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 137 

success this time, and when the question was put 
by the moderator on the day named above, the 
town of Carver* was ushered into existence by the 
vote of 97 to 76. Nothing remained but to secure 
the charter, settle the preliminaries, agree upon 
boundary lines, divide the poor, etc., and by June 
10 their charter having passed its several stages, 
received the signature of Gov. John Hancock. 

The first ''legal meeting of the Inhabitants of 
the town of Carver" was held in "Mr. Rowland's 
meeting house" July fifth following the granting 
of its charter in which business was transacted 
according to the following report : 

1 

"At a meeting of the inhabitence of the Town 
of Carver Regularly assembled agreeable to the 
foregoing act of the general cort and held at 
the North meeting house in Said town on mon- 
day July the 5th 1790 the meeting was opend 
with Prayer By the Rev. John Howland after 
which Franecis Shurtleff Esq was chosen 
moderator in Said meeting. 

2 

Made choice of Capt Nehemiah Cobb Town 
Clark for the year insueing he was acordingly 
Sworn by Franecis Shurtleff Esq. 

3 

mad choice of Dea Thomas Savery, Capt Wil- 
liam Atwood and Samuel Lucas jun Select men 
for the year insuing. 



*The town received its name in honor of John Carver the first 
Governor of Plynaouth who died childless. 



138 HISTORY OF CARVER 

4 

made choice of Benjamin White, Samuel Lucas 
Jun and Barnabus Cobb assessors for the year 
insuing they ware accordingly sworn. 

5 

made choice of Franecis Shurtleff Esq Treasurer 
for the year insuing he was accordingly sworn. 

6 

Voted to chuse two Collectors for the year insu- 
ing. rj 

Voted to De\ad the To^\ti into two Destricks for 
Collections, to be Devided as it was Last year. 

8 

Made choice of Jonathan Tilson for the North 

Destrick agreed with for 8d on the Pound and 

was Sworn, 

9 

Made choice of Caleb Attwood for the South 

Destrick the year insuing agreed with for 8d on 

the Pound and was Sworn. 

10 
Made choice of Jonathan Tillson Constable for 
the North Destrick the year insuing. 

11 
Made choice of Caleb Attwood Constable for the 
South Destrick the year insuing. 

12 

Made choice of Nathaniel Atwood grand jury- 
man for the year insuing. 

13 

Made choice of Timothy Cobb Tithing man for. 
the year insuing. 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 139 

14 

Made choice of Benjamin Cobb Sevear of high 
ways for the first Destrick for the year insuing, 
maid choice of Lieut Joseph Shaw for the sec- 
ond Destrick made choice of Capt. Benjamin 
ward for the third Destrick made choice of John 
Muxam for the forth Destrict. 
the 4 above Survayors ware Sworn. 

15 
Made choice of James Vaughan and Lieut John 
Shaw fence Vuers for the year insuing. 

16 
Made choice of Carver Barrows and Isaac 
Cobb for Hogreves for the year insuing. 

17 
Voted that Mr. Issacher fuller keep Susannah 
Cole till fall meeting at the Rate She was bid of 
at the Last May neeting. 

18 

Voted that James Vaughan keep Patience Pratt 

till fall meeting for one shilling and fore pence 

per week. 

19 

Voted that the Select men agree with Joseph 

Robbins how he shall keep Elizabeth Boardmen 

and how much he shall give for the improvement 

of her Estate. 

Voted that Franecis Shurtleff Esq and Capt Ne- 
hemiah Cobb be a Committy to join with the 
Selectmen as a Committy to Settle the Accomps 
with the town of Plymton. 



21 
Voted to agurn this meeting till the fall meet- 



140 HISTORY OF CARVER 

The final report of the committee appointed 
to settle with the town of Plympton was rendered 
in 1795 by which it appears that the new town 
was indebted to the old town to the amount 
of 18 pounds and 18 shillings. Against this 
amount there was a set off amounting to 6 pounds 
3 shillings and 8 pence, being school allowance 
for Samuel Lucas for the years 1788 and 1789, 
which deducted made the net debt of the town 
of Carver to the mother town of 12 pounds 14 
shillings and 4 pence. By way of assets that 
came to Carver as a dowry there were 2968 paper 
dollars in the treasury of Plympton, Carver's 
share of which was adjudged to be 1385 dollars. 
This sum was constituted of Eevolutionary re- 
minders known as Continental money, apparently 
and absolutely worthless except as curios, and 
Nathan Cobb was constituted the agent of the 
town to dispose of these "dollars" as "best he 
could." There is no evidence to indicate that 
he found a market, for in the saying that has 
come down to us they "were not worth a con- 
tinental. ' ' 

The first town meeting was held in the North 
Meeting house but the custom of calling a por- 
tion of these meetings in the South Meeting 
house was begun in 1792. The old building near 
Lakenham cemetery soon went to decay and all 
of the legal meetings were held in the South 
building for a few years or until the new build- 
ings at the Green and at the centre of the town 
were erected in 1824 when the custom of meet- 
ing at different sections was renewed. The ac- 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 141 

commodations of these buildings proved unsatis- 
factory and all of the town meetings were held 
in the South Meeting house which came to be 
known as "the Town hall," being specially pre- 
pared for that purpose in 1854. This building 
was the sole town meeting place until 1881, when 
it began to divide the honors with King Philip's 
hall. 

An agitation for a town hall sprang up in 1840, 
but the proposition was rejected by the voters; 
and again in 1850 and 1854. In 1880 the agita- 
tion was renewed, and in view of the degenerate 
condition of the old building the advocates of the 
new hall triumphed and the town hall since used 
was opened to the public in 1887. 

Tythingmen were annually elected for upwards 
of fifty years but their election was little less than 
the following of a custom as the sentiment of the 
age was against the spirit that evolved such an 
officer. Never did one of these officers succeed 
himself, the last to be elected being James 
Savery, Eliab Ward and Ellis Griffith in 1847. 

The town voters annually settled the question 
of whether hogs and cattle might be permitted 
to run at large. Hogs had to be ''ringed and 
yoked according to law," but horses and cattle 
went unfettered. To regulate the custom hog- 
reaves and horsereves had to be chosen but their 
duties began to wane about 1825 when the town 
refused to give the practice the sanction of its 
approval and the duties of these officers soon fell 
to the modern field driver. Inspectors of nails 
were also chosen in the early record of the town. 



142 HISTORY OF CARVER 

When domestic animals were permitted to run 
at large, a town pound was essential, and these 
have continued through the regime of the field- 
drivers, the later votes authorizing each field 
driver to make his own pound or use his own 
domains for that purpose. The Town Pound was 
located opposite and a little to the north of the 
Baptist church. It was seven rails high, three 
panes square, and furnished with a gate, lock and 
key. It was repaired for the last time in 1855. 

In 1814 according to custom the town became 
the owner of a hearse and erected a hearse house 
near the town pound. The town also purchased 
a set of burial clothes which were used in com- 
mon. In 1826 sextons were elected by the town 
and their compensation fixed at one dollar per 
funeral. In 1841 a new hearse was provided and 
the house repaired. The building was repaired 
for the last time in 1855. Soon after this (1868) 
the custom of providing a public hearse was dis- 
continued at a lively town meeting in which the 
hearse was championed by George P. Bowers and 
opposed by William Savery. 

After the prevailing custom of caring for the 
poor when the town was incorporated each in- 
dividual case was disposed of in open town meet- 
ing by setting the ward up at auction and strik- 
ing him or her off to the lowest bidder. In cases 
where the pauper was so undesirable that a satis- 
factory bid could not be obtained it was left in 
the hands of the Selectmen. In the process of 
evolution this system soon became unpopular. 
The poor were on the increase, bidders were 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 143 

scarce, and the voters were driven to look for 
another system. 

To purchase the simplest article of wearing 
apparel called for a vote in town meeting. The 
matter would be discussed pro and con, rules of 
parliamentary procedure would be strictly ad- 
hered to, while the question before the house was 
whether Joseph Cobb should be given a contract 
to make a pair of shoes for Patience Pratt for 
six shillings. At the first town meeting of Car- 
ver it was voted that the poor be continued in the 
hands of those who bid them in at the last Plymp- 
ton town meeting. By the effect of this vote 
''Isaker Fuller was to keep the Cole woman until 
Fall at the rate she was bid off in May," ''James 
Vaughan was to keep a woman named Robbins 
until Fall meeting for one shilling and four pence 
per week," while the Selectmen were authorized 
to agree upon terms for which Joseph Robbins 
should keep Elisabeth Boardman and how much 
he should give for the improvement of her es- 
tate. Among other Town ordinances illustrating 
this system of caring for the poor were these: 
The town would assist Amaziah King to build a 
chimney ; Thankful Bumpus ' child was left in the 
hands of the Selectmen ''to see that it was not 
abused ; ' ' Edward Stetson was authorized to keep 
Isaac King until he was twenty-one with "the 
Town's allowing him twenty dollars for his 
trouble;" a family was ordered to stay with "his 
wife 's brother in Middleboro ; " a ward was voted 
two dollars and a barrel of herrings to assist him 
in supporting his family ; the Selectmen must see 



144 HISTORY OF CARVER 

if they can get Cuffy Collins kept for what the 
Town receives from the State; Samuel Lucas 
could draw $3.92 for finding an indigent woman 
a pair of shoes, a gound, a petticoat and two 
shirts ; the Selectmen were authorized to bind out 
Lydia King until she was eighteen. Such were 
the troublesome questions that came before the 
town meetings of the early days. 

By 1805 the poor problem had become such a 
burdensome one in the opinion of the voters that 
the Selectmen were instructed to collect all of the 
Town wards, bring them into Town immediately 
and buy or build a house for them at the lowest 
possible cost. Nothing came of this vote, how- 
ever and ten years later another effort was made 
towards a more centralized and economical sys- 
tem. At the regular March meeting it was voted 
to postpone the sale of the poor until May. A 
system developed so rapidly that at the May 
meeting a committee composed of Samuel Shaw, 
Thomas Hammond and Hezekiah Cole was named 
to find a place where the poor could be gathered 
and to estimate the cost. As a result of the 
deliberations of this committee its chairman, 
Shaw, agreed to take the poor at his house. The 
offer was accepted and Samuel Shaw became 
keeper of the town's poor, a position he held for 
ten years. Shaw owned a large farm between 
the Quitticus road and Cedar brook, residing in 
a house near the brook and keeping the poor in 
another of his houses which stood on the corner 
of Eochester road and Quitticus road. During 
this decade the poor were well cared for and un- 




TllK J !A I "I' I ST Clll'lvMMl— lilTILT J 824 
Centre of Old IJuiiio Meetings 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 145 

der the supervision were kept at work as far as 
their strength and competency would admit. 
Making cloth for the town from flax purchased 
by the agent formed a good part of their labors. 
In 1826 the salable paupers were again sold at 
auction while the undesirable ones were left in 
the hands of the Selectmen. This old system had 
not come to stay, for the following year the Select- 
men were instructed to see what they could buy 
a small farm for and in 1829 the town voted to 
build a poor house and Thomas Cobb and 
Jonathan Atwood was the committee to select 
the site and contract for the building. The com- 
mittee followed their frugal instincts so closely, 
no doubt urged by the town vote to buy a ' ' small 
building" that the building proved too small and 
after a year's experiment it was discarded and 
the poor again fell to the care of the Selectmen. 
This first poor housef owned by the Town stood 
on the corner of Rochester road and the road 
that leads to Beaver Dam road and after several 
fruitless efforts to remodel it, it was placed upon 
the market where it remained for nearly twenty 
years before a purchaser was found. In 1841 
the Selectmen recommended trading it for the 
Winslow Wright farm,* but their proposition did 
not receive the approval of the town. 



tThe poor were first gathered in a house owned by Samuel 
Sharv, which stood on the site of the residence of E. E. Shaw. 
The first poor house stood on the site of the residence of Mrs. 
P. J. Barrows, and which was burned. 

•The Winslow Wright farm, was that now owned by James P. 
Kennedy. 



146 HISTORY OF CARVER 

In 1840 the novel plan of selling the poor 
singly and then setting them up in a body with 
the understanding that if the bid in a lump was 
less than the aggregate of single bids, the bidder 
of the lump should be accepted. Under this ex- 
periment Thomas Hammond was the successful 
bidder for the lump sum of $471. Financially his 
speculation was not a success and he was subse- 
quently granted an additional fifty dollars. 

In 1843 the Selectmen were instructed to view 
the farms in town that were for sale, but owing 
to sectional feeling over the location no agree- 
ment was made. Two years later Jonathan 
Atwood, Eliab Ward, Ebenezer Cobb, Asaph 
Atwood and Henry Sherman were constituted a 
committee with authority to purchase a poor farm 
and as a result of their labors the last poor farm 
came into the possession of the town. This farm 
was bought of Capt. Joseph Holmes but it was 
known as the Deacon Savery place, being the 
former residence of the town's first Selectman, 
Thomas Savery. 

A share of the dissatisfaction of the poor 
management of the early times arose from a 
lack of centralized agencies. A Board of Over- 
seers was chosen in 1838 and again in 1845 but 
the method at that time did not touch the popu- 
lar favor and permanent Boards were not elected 
until 1852. Since that year the Almshouse under 
the management of the Overseers has been the 
unquestioned system governing the poor depart- 
ment. 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 147 

In the march of events the dawn of the 20th 
century found almshouses as conducted in small 
towns out of favor. Still more centralized pos- 
sibilities are hinted at as public sentiment ad- 
vances and country poor houses may be con- 
sidered a thing of the past. Consequently there 
is no agitation looking towards replacing the 
house burned in 1909 and it is probable that a 
better system will be developed from the un- 
scientific methods now in vogue in this humani- 
tarian branch of municipal government. 

A provision for education, meagre as it may 
seem to us, was among the early duties of New 
England town fathers. At first the limit of ef- 
forts consisted in a vote in Town meeting in- 
structing the Selectmen to hire a school master. 
The labor of the master was mainly during the 
"Winter months and there was no minimum or 
maximum limit to the age of his pupils. School 
houses and books were not provided, and the 
seeker for ''learning" was expected to interest 
himself or herself to the extent of procuring 
books and of finding a place where the school 
might be held in session provided there were 
pupils enough to render it necessary. From this 
beginning developed the District School system 
which was well under way at the time the town 
was incorporated, the Districts having been or- 
ganized under the direction of the Precinct. 

The initial move of the Town of Plympton for 
a school was at a town meeting in 1708 when the 
freeholders voted to have a school and instructed 
their Selectmen to hire a school master. 



148 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Two schools were established at that time, one 
at Colchester and one at Lakenham, but in 1716 
the master was authorized to spend one fourth of 
his time at Lakenham and one fourth at South 
Meadows. By this it appears that one half of 
the school money was devoted to the South which 
at the time had established two schools. 

In 1734-5 the South Precinct (recently incor- 
porated) was exempt from a school tax provided 
it maintain a school of its own, and by 1755 while 
the town voted to have a school in each Parish 
the South Precinct was left to control its own, 
Samuel Shaw being the authorized agent to hire 
a master, and Capt. Barnabas Shurtleff, Dea. 
Crocker and Samuel Shaw constituted a com- 
mittee to ''model" the Districts in the South. 
This may be considered the basis of our school 
system. 

There were three Districts at that time, Laken- 
ham, Popes Point and South Meadows, Dea. 
Crocker representing the first District, Capt. 
Shurtleff the second and Samuel Shaw the third. 
At the time Carver was incorporated three dis- 
tricts more had been carved out of the Precinct 
and at a town meeting in November, 1790, Benja- 
min Crocker, Consider Chase, Samuel Lucas 3d, 
Capt. William Atwood, Benjamin' White and 
Caleb Atwood were named as a committee to re- 
model the school Districts in town and apportion 
the money. In 1802 a seventh District was es- 
tablished known as the Federal District and made 
up of the families residing around the Federal 
Furnace, and in 1851 the Western part of District 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 149 

No. 4 was set off as a separate District No. 8. 
With occasionally voting a family from one Dis- 
trict to another, and a general vote in 1843 an- 
nexing the Federal District to No. 4 and the 
* ^'Snappit" District to No. 1, these Districts con- 
tinued up to the time the District system was 
abolished. After the two Districts named were 
merged Summer schools were maintained at 
Federal and Snappit, those old districts drawing 
their proportional part of the school funds for 
Summer schools while scholars over eight years 
of age attended other schools in Winter. 

The town's authority in the school was an 
agent elected in town meeting from the District, 
but the schools were in the control of the patrons 
of the school who resided in the District, and in 
some of the last years of the system the town 
showed its hostility to the growing sentiment in 
the direction of town control by voting to permit 
each District to elect its own agent. Each Dis- 
trict built and paid for its own school house, the 
management of the schools was in the hands of 
District officers, and resenting the approaching 
town control it was frequently voted 'Hhat the 
Prudential Committee be the School Committee 
required by law. ' ' 

There were various plans of dividing the school 
money which was raised in a lump sum and 
assessed by the town Assessors. At first it was 
divided according to the polls and estates in each 
District. Later is was divided according to the 
number of scholars in each District, and as the 
battle between the advocates of the Town and 



150 HISTORY OF CARVER 

the District systems waged hotter the town 
showed its colors by voting that each District 
should draw all the school money paid into the 
town treasury within its limits. 

For several years after the town's incorpora- 
tion there were but two school houses within the 
municipality Districts 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 holding 
their schools in private buildings. The first 
building in the Lakenham District stood directly 
south of the Green ; the second building was built 
in 1849 and used until the present school house 
was opened in 1903. The original Popes Point 
school house stood on the east side of the river 
a short distance west of the residence of George 
W. Atwood; the building now in use was erected 
on its present site in 1854. The first building in 
the Center District stood opposite the residence 
of Mrs. Maria Y. Shurtleff and used until the 
present Primary school house was erected in 
1850. The old school house of South Carver 
stood near the Indian land east of the brook. 
Upon the secession of the western section form- 
ing District No. 8 the old building was discon- 
tinued and the present school house erected which 
was opened for school purposes in 1852. The 
first building in Wenham stood opposite the pres- 
ent school house which was built in 1855. ' ' Snap- 
pit," once a populous village, erected its first 
school house on Snappit Green ; the second build- 
ing built about 1850 was moved to North Carver 
in 1880 and fitted for a Grammar school. Federal 
District never had a school house; the original 
building in District No. 8 stood east of the 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 151 

residence of Capt. William S. McFarlin which 
was moved to its present location near Bates 
Pond in 1900. In 1890 a small school house was 
built near East Head bogs but owing to the 
vacilating population of that section it was in 
use but a few years. 

In addition to the public schools there were 
private schools in operation in the southern sec- 
tion of the town in the first half of the nineteenth 
century conducted only during the summer 
months and supported by private subscriptions. 
The school was first held in the South Meeting 
house, the front seats being used. Later a small 
building was erected where afterwards stood the 
blacksmith shop of Ellis Maxim, and in 1833 
through the efforts of John Savery and Ezra 
Thompson a school building for summer use was 
erected on the Ridge near the Israel Thomas 
place. This was in use but a few years. It is a 
significant fact that the total annual enrollment 
has not materially varied since the town was in- 
corporated. 

The High school was established in 1897, hold- 
ing its sessions in the Town Hall until the High 
school building was erected in 1899. 

The first town appropriation for schools was 
thirty pounds, equal in the exchange of the times 
to two hundred dollars. This annual allowance 
was annually increased until it reached eleven 
hundred dollars when the system was abolished 
in 1869. 

In considering the appropriations up to this 
point it is essential to remember that the system 



152 HISTORY OF CARVER 

of ''boarding around" was in vogue, the teachers 
being compelled to board a proportional time 
with each patron of the school. The teacher 
whose lot was cast under this regime could tell 
entertaining stories of her experience, and while 
it may seem something like a hardship the teacher 
could get an insight into the nature and require- 
ments of the pupils which the modern trained 
educator looks upon as a thing beneath her dig- 
nity. 

The leading citizens of the town were unalter- 
ably wedded to their system, and as the statute 
required a vote on its abolition once in three 
years beginning with 1859 the matter was one of 
continual agitation. In 1863, 1866 and 1869 at 
the regular March meetings the friends of the 
system easily prevailed; but at a special meeting 
in May, 1869, the majority voted to submit to the 
inevitable and a committee composed of Thomas 
Cobb, John Bent, John Shaw, Jesse Murdock, H. 
A. Lucas, Frederick Cobb and Andrew Griffith 
was elected to appraise the several school build- 
ings in town. An effort to reconsider was made 
at a meeting June 20th, called upon petition of 
George P. Bowers and twelve others but the ma- 
jority refused to recede. 

Among the opponents of the change who fought 
to the end was William Savery. Believing the 
cause of education would be injured in passing 
the control of the children and the schools into 
alien hands he stubbornly resisted the change. 
Mr. Savery had taken an interest in the schools 
in many ways. He furnished a large bell for his 




m 

H 

o s 



THE SECOND SEPARATION 153 

own school District; he had presented each Dis- 
trict in town with a library of forty-two volumes 
each ; and for several years he had added one hun- 
dred dollars annually to the town's school appro- 
priation. Benjamin Ellis and E. Tillson Pratt 
were also interested in the schools to the extent 
of leaving substantial endowments for their en- 
couragement. 



THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT 

Evidently the remorse over the evils of intem- 
perance was not marked enough in the eighteenth 
century to make any impression on public senti- 
ment. Certainly late in said group of years the 
remorse was not of such a type as to interfere 
with a society of meeting house promoters which 
voted to provide ardent spirits, not only for those 
who were to do the tugging and sweating at the 
raising of their structure, but to those who at- 
tended in their capacity as curiosity seekers, and 
'^liquor sufficient for them all" is written boldly 
in the records. 

Then again it is evident that here and there, 
some lonely soul condemned to serve its proba- 
tion in advance of its time was the target of wise 
remonstrance or biting sarcasm as perchance it 
ventured to suggest that it was not the part of 
wisdom for one to get crosslegged in body and 
mind often enough to hazard his dependents on 
the public charge. And this sentiment grew little 
by little until it produced a revolution in public 
sentiment and the anti-tipplers became the 
dominant force. 

This town seems to have been afflicted with the 
evil early and hard. Its taverns, located about 
midway between the rum importing towns of 
New Bedford and Plymouth with stages making 

155 



156 HISTORY OF CARVER 

their periodical stops; its furnace stores making 
a specialty of rum and molasses; and with its 
merchants* with an eye ever out for business 
looked after the supply. And the furnacemen 
subjected to extremes of heat and cold, with 
ample spare time and a constant credit gave a 
back ground for the demand. 

And so the tavern became the centre of the evil 
on which the invaders trained their artillery. 
Around these taverns were centred the excite- 
ment, the society, the loafers, for no where else 
was the opportunity. And there was the news, 
for there were no newspapers and the only mails 
came lumbering along in the stages. A letter 
from New York was marked twenty five cents 
due and precious glad was the recipient to pay 
the price, for it was a rare treat to hear from 
such a remote point of creation. And then if a 
well-to-do spendthrift happened to be a passenger 
on the stage he would be sure to stop to warm his 
frost bitten fingers and incidentally stand treat 
for the house, and it would be little less than a mis- 
fortune to be reckoned among the absentees. For 
these reasons, and others unmentioned, the loaf- 
ers and the news seekers and the smoke-after-sup- 
per furnacemen felt it a duty to be at the tavern 

*Benjamin Ellis and Skipper John Bent were rivals in the iron 
trade, rum trade, etc. Ellis was eminently successful, but Bent 
failed to land, hence looked upon his rival with suspicions. Meet- 
ing at a town meeting when the agitation against rum selling was 
at its height, Ellis accosted Bent in this bantering way: "What 
do you say Skipper? The ministers say they are going to send us 

to for selling rum. What do you say to that?" The 

Skipper improved his opportunity with his piping answer. "I 
don't believe they can do that. But they may send some of us 
there for mixing too much of Sampsons pond water with it. ' ' 



THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT 157 

every night and the sounds of revelry made their 
mark ultimately upon the public conscience. 

Thus it comes to pass that when we look back 
to that tide called temperance movement which 
assumed shape and motion about eighteen hun- 
dred and twenty five, the old tavern lit up with 
its glowing fires and merry with its jostling joking 
loafers breaks upon our vision with the glare of 
a noonday sun. 

That there was just cause for the movement 
does not admit of contradiction ; that public senti- 
ment laid dormant so long invites comment. 
Drunkenness everywhere, pauperism on the in- 
crease, farms passing to the store keepers, even 
at funerals the inebriety of those in official 
capacities shocked the sensibilities of the mourn- 
ers. And so we do not marvel that when the un- 
lucky number had been reeled off of the nineteenth 
century the voters in town meeting assembled, 
with no opposition on record, decided "to have 
a stroke in the warrant for the May meeting for 
taking up rum." 

The State had taken hold of the subject with 
its legislation when in 1825 the Selectmen of Car- 
ver were instructed to use their influence for the 
suppression of the evils of intemperance in town 
according to law; and two years later Ezra 
Thompson, Samuel Shaw and Thomas Adams 
were constituted a committee to enforce the laws 
relating to Taverners and Retailers. In their re- 
port the committee says : 

"Your committee have viewed with grief the 
increased progress of dissipation in the town of 



158 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Carver and feel anxious that some arrangement 
might be made which will come within the limit 
of the authority of the town to check the progress 
of that evil which in our opinion is the principle 
cause of the multiplied crime and poverty which 
the inhabitants of the town are becoming noted 
for, and your committee are of the opinion that 
these evils are promoted by a want of due ob- 
servance of the laws by the licensed houses and 
stores in town." 

As a step towards the solution of the problem 
the committee recommended: 

First. 
That a committee of three be chosen by bal- 
lot to act with the Selectmen in posting in the 
licensed places the names of those who are 
known to be notoriously intemperate. 

Second. 
That a committee of seven be elected to be 
known as a Committee of observation to make 
a note of every violation of the laws and re- 
port to the Selectmen. 

Third. 
The Selectmen to take cognizance of such 
complaints and when proved to annul the 
license and commence action against said 
parties. 

These recommendations were accepted by the 
town and for the first committee, those making 
the suggestions were named. The committee of 
observation was composed of Dea. Levi Vaughan, 
Jonathan Atwood, Thomas Hammond, Joseph 



THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT 159 

Barrows, Lieut. John Shaw, Levi Sherman and 
Ebenezer Dunham. 

While these committees may be assumed to 
have worked with determination along the lines 
mapped out, the evils of intemperance did not dis- 
appear, if in fact there was any visible cessation. 

In 1829 John Savery took up the problem in a 
special town meeting. As a result of his efforts 
an inquisition was named composed of Benjamin 
Ellis, Ezra Thompson, Jesse Murdock, Lot 
Shurtleif , Jonathan Atwood, Capt. Samuel Shaw, 
Alvin Vaughan, Capt. Thomas Cobb, Capt. Levi 
Vaughan, Levi Sherman, Benjamin Ransom, 
John Savery and Lewis Pratt. The prescribed 
duties of the inquisition were to watch over the 
habits of their fellow townsmen and if in their 
judgment any were found spending too much of 
their time around the taverns a report signed by 
any three of the committee brought the matter to 
the attention of the Selectmen. The time of this 
method was brief but it was the means of plac- 
ing several under guardianship and out of the 
reach of the greedy retailer. 

In 1832 the Selectmen were under instructions 
to post the names of those "who were misspend- 
ing their time and property by the excessive use 
of intoxicating liquors," and Eufus Sherman, 
Samuel Briggs, Lot Shurtleif, Thomas Maxim, 
John S. Lucas, Isaac Dunham and Ebenezer 
Dunham, constituted a standing committee for the 
prosecution of illegal liquor sellers. 

This first outbreak of the temperance move- 
ment failed to eradicate the evils of intemperance 



160 HISTORY OF CARVER 

and the first promoters became disheartened. 
There naturally came a lull in the efforts while 
the need of corrective steps did not abate. The 
efforts of those who were recorded against the 
evil were centered in efforts to enforce the laws 
against illegal sales, until 1856 when an attempt 
was made to regulate the traffic by the adoption 
of the Town agency plan. 

According to his bond the agent was to sell ''to 
be used in the arts, and for mechanical, chemical 
and medicinary purposes and for no other." 
Very little was called for in the arts, or for me- 
chanical or chemical purposes, but the records 
show that it was used liberally for medicinal pur- 
poses. With few exceptions the 8,500 sales re- 
corded while the plan was in vogue were for 
medicine. A well known resident who had served 
the town in various public capacities headed the 
list May 28, 1856, with one gallon of gin and one 
gallon of New England rum for medicinal pur- 
poses. 

The agency was continued nearly twenty years 
but it failed to eradicate the evils of intemper- 
ance; and this fate reached also the State pro- 
hibitory law that followed and the local option 
rule of later days. 

Working outside of the channels of legislation, 
and on moral suasion lines, have been instituted 
several temperance societies. 

Wankinquoah Division, No. 135, Sons of Tem- 
perance, was organized Nov. 3, 1859, in Bay State 
hall with the following charter members : 





THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 



THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT 161 

William S. McFarlin, John Murdock, Benjamin 
Harlow, Elisha M. Dunham, Hiram 0. Tillson, 
Andrew Griffith, Ephraim Griffith, Isaac Harlow, 
Simeon Harlow, Joseph T. McFarlin, Solomon F. 
McFarlin, Joseph T. Shurtleff, Alonzo Shaw, 
Lncian T. Hammond, William Hammond and 
Jason Atwood. These ladies were also initiated 
as visitors : Mrs. Mary A. Murdock, Mrs. Nancy 

B. Perkins, and Misses Eliza Shaw, Amelia Sher- 
man, Harriet Atwood, Lucretia McFarlin, Mercy 
J. McFarlin, Lydia Atwood, Deborah Bumpus, 
Hannah Tillson, Helen Griffith, Eliza Ellis, Mary 
E. Shaw, Harriet Tillson, Lois Smith, Hannah 
Smith, Elizabeth Maxim, Elizabeth Shaw, Lydia 
Shaw, Melissa Atwood and Carrie B. Griffith. 
This order continued in active operation until the 
surrender of its charter, Oct. 10, 1872. , 

Five years later Echo Lake Lodge, I. 0. G. T., 
was organized in the same hall with the following 
charter members: William S. McFarlin, Alfred 

C. Covill, Lucie H. Gill, Lizzie Leach, Ella Lovell, 
T. T. Vaughan, Edward Vaughan, J. A. 
Vaughan, Eben Crowell, Bell Faulkner, Nannie 
Douglass, Emma Blake, Frank Case, Charles 
Sherman, Laura Shaw, Ella Sears, William Miller^ 
C. F. Tillson, Elmer Shaw and Emma Souther. 
The charter of this society was surrendered in 
1881. 

Winthrop Lodge, I. 0. G. T., No. 247 was or- 
ganized in Winthrop hall, Oct. 28, 1889, with 
charter members as follows : William S. McFar- 
lin, Nelson F. Manter, Thomas P. Manter, James 
E. Brett, Ira B. Bumpus, Zelotus K. Eldredge, 



162 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Albert F. Atwood, Jason B. McFarlin, John B. 
McFarlin, Silvanus L. Brett, Hannah A. Brett, M. 
Elvira Briggs, Lizzie M. Schouler, Z. W. Andrews, 
Emma F. Manter, Amanda J. Adams, Ella F. 
Manter, Sarah J. Swift, Ida M. Tillson, Mabel M. 
McFarlin, Nellie W. Shaw, Edward C. Shaw and 
Hannah W. Atwood. The efforts of this society 
resulted in the building of Good Templars hall. 

The Carver W. C. T. U. was organized April 
14, 1893 with twenty five members. Mrs. Mary 
Tobey was the first President; Mrs. Dessie 
Vaughan, Secretary and Mrs. L. C. Vaughan, 
Treasurer. April 26th of the same year the Car- 
ver L. T. L. was organized with Mrs. P. Jane Bar- 
rows as President. 

The South Carver W. C. T. XJ- was organized 
Feb. 26, 1884, with Mrs. D. M. Bates, President, 
and Mrs. John S. Cartee, Secretary. 



THE BAPTIST CHUECH 

Somewhere around the year 1760 a cloud no 
bigger than a man's hand appeared on the hori- 
zon of the orthodox world of the South Precinct 
of Plympton. Witness a vote of said body-politic 
in March, 1763 when without ceremony and not 
without apparent spite the freeholders voted not 
to abate the taxes of those calling themselves 
''Baptes" on the list of Collector Elkanah Lucas. 
Eowland Hammond was among the first to break 
with the established church, and assisted by a 
little band of agitators, he made life worth living 
among his neighbors before and after the Eevolu- 
tion. 

It would be a matter worthy of protracted com- 
ment if there were not a little mite of human na- 
ture in those days, so what of it if an occasional 
tight fisted tax payer did make a stone Easel of the 
new faith as a shield against the darts of the Pub- 
licans ? But there is not an apology for evidence 
to indicate that the devotees of the young sect 
were not as sincere a band of reformers as those 
heroic souls that came over in the Mayflower. 

Gradually gaining in numbers and enthusiasm, 
by 1788 the rulers of the Precinct were compelled 
to notice them, and Thomas Savery, Capt. "Wil- 
liam Atwood and Isaiah Tillson were sent out as 
pickets to investigate affairs around South 

163 



164 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Meadows and find out who really were, and who 
were not, Baptists. The Committee trudged down 
to the affected region and learned to their satis- 
faction that there were a few heretics in the 
woods, and upon the information thus obtained 
the Precinct Assessors were instructed to post 
notices to the effect that those who called them- 
selves Baptist must file certificates with said 
Board if they wished to be in line for abatements. 
Eowland Hammond and Frances Bent had been 
outspoken Baptists so long that they looked upon 
this move as a means of humiliation and they re- 
fused to register. And for their particular bene- 
fit the Precinct ordered that they must produce 
a certificate from a Baptist Elder if they would 
escape the wrath of the tax gatherer. 

In April, 1789, William Shurtleff, Nathaniel 
Atwood, Noah Pratt, Billa Bryant, John Tripp 
and Mrs. Abigail Lucas met together to discuss 
the situation. After thoroughly considering their 
numerical strength (weakness), their financial 
straits and the rashness of withdrawing from the 
old church, they postponed temporarily the 
launching of the proposed society. But in June, 
1791 the devotees of the new faith had reached a 
stage in which they felt justified in taking active 
steps towards the organization of their church. 
John Tripp was instructed to transcribe the 
Articles of Faith of the third Baptist church of 
Middleboro, and these with a few alterations be- 
came the Articles of Faith of the first Baptist 
church of Carver. After taking counsel of Elders 
Bachus of Middleboro, and Nelson of Taunton, the 



THE BAPTIST CHURCH 165 

little group adjourned to July when the following 
signed the covenant: William Shurtleff, Na- 
thaniel Atwood, Seth Barrows, Benjamin Ransom, 
Noah Pratt, Billa Bryant, Rowland Hammond, 
John Tripp, Levi Shurtleff, Ruth Faunce, Mercy 
Shurtleff and Priscilla Shurtleff. 

The society set out in earnest to arrange for 
the ordination of a pastor and after a few har- 
monious meetings it was voted to ordain as the 
society's first preacher one of its charter mem- 
bers, John Tripp. 

The Council which convened Sept. 27th, 1791 
was composed of Elder Isaac Bachus and Dea. 
Alden from the first church of Middleboro ; Elder 
George Robinson and delegates Lothrop and 
Howard from Bridgewater; Elder Ebenezer Nel- 
son and Stephen Nelson from Taunton; and Dea- 
cons James and George Shaw from the third 
church of Middleboro. 

A contest for the position of deacon was settled 
by the decision of the society to elect two and both 
Rowland Hammond and Billa Bryant realized 
their highest aspirations. Elder Tripp was a 
faithful laborer who found a place for himself in 
the hearts of his co-workers, and he enjoyed the 
complete confidence of every member of the 
society. During this period the society had the 
use of the South Meeting house and many came 
into the church from the Fresh Meadow Village. 
The society flourished under the labors of its first 
minister and at the beginning connected itself 
with the Warren Association. Elder Tripp was 
released in November 1798 to be ordained over the 



166 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Baptist church of Hebron in the district of Maine 
to which charge he carried a warm recommen- 
dation from his first church. 

For seven years following this ministry the 
society was without an ordained leader. While 
too poor financially to support a minister it was 
too aggressive to compromise fully with the old 
society, and frequent church conferences were 
held while the whip was in constant use. Oc- 
casional public services were held in which Elders 
Samuel Abbott, Ebenezer Nelson and Ezra Ken- 
dall lent their assistance. In the year 1804, Elder 
Kendall appears to have been the pastor of the 
church. Federal village was a favored place of 
meeting where at the residence of Moses Wright 
baptisms were celebrated and the church received 
communionists which in after years became the 
staunch defenders of the faith. 

In the summer of 1805 a new day dawned upon 
the society — a day marked by great enthusiasm — 
and which added materially to its numbers al- 
though its financial standing was little improved. 
In November of that year David Bursell having 
become a member of the society was called to its 
ministry. The sentiments breathed in the formal 
call, as also in Bursell's reply, did not seek to be- 
little the financial weakness, and it was under the 
most gloomy skies that the new minister began 
his labors. He was ordained in June 1806 by a 
Council composed of Elder Simeon Coombs, Peter 
Hoar, Barnabas Clark and Moses Perras of the 
second church of Middleboro ; Elder Samuel Nel- 
son, Elisha Clark and Joseph Shaw of the third 



THE BAPTIST CHURCH 167 

church of Middleboro; and Elder Samuel Abbot, 
Abitha Briggs, Ebenezer Briggs and Deacon 
Briggs of the fourth church of Middleboro. 

Under the ministry of Elder Bursell the society 
gained materially in membership but it was con- 
tinually submerged in matters of finance. The 
meetings and public services were held at various 
places, sometimes at the South Meeting house, 
sometimes at the Spruce church,* and often at 
private dwellings. The residence of Lieut. Caleb 
Atwood was a favorite place of meeting, being 
centrally located for South Meadows, South Mid- 
dleboro and Federal. At this period the society 
had an active membership over the Middleboro 
line and in 1812 it was voted to advise the Middle- 
boro branch to withdraw and organize a fifth 
Baptist church for that town. 

The society was incorporated June 22, 1811 
with the following charter members : 

Benjamin Shurtleff William Atwood 

Flavel Shurtleff Asaph Atwood 

Lot Shurtleff Jonathan Atwood 

Ebenezer Shurtleff Joseph Atwood 

Gideon Shurtleff liazarus Atwood 

Abial Shurtleff Samuel Atwood 

Gideon Shurtleff, Jr. Samuel Atwood, Jr. 

Frances Shurtleff Stephen Atwood 

Nathaniel Shurtleff Levi Atwood 
Nathaniel Shurtleff, 2nd. Caleb Atwood 

Peter Shurtleff Abner Atwood 

Thomas Shurtleff John Atwood 

*Now the South Middleboro M. E. church. 



168 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



John Atwood, Jr. 
Joshua Atwood 
Nathaniel Atwood 
"^V'illiam Atwood, 2nd. 
Samuel Shaw 
John Shaw 
Silvanus Shaw 
Silvanus Shaw, Jr. 
Levi Shaw 
Abigail Shaw 
Benjamin Ward 
Benjamin Ward, Jr. 
Samuel Lucas 
Carver Barrows 
Seth Barrows 
Ephraim Griffith 
Huit McFarlin 
Bethnel Tillson 
David Vaughan 
Joseph Ellis, Jr. 
ElUs Shaw 
Joseph Robbing 



Eli Thomas 

Benjamin White 

William Murdock 

Ebenezer Dunham 

Jabez Maxim 

Jabez Maxim, Jr. 

Thomas Maxim 

John Bumpus 

Isaac Cushman 

Hosea Lucas 

Cornelius Dunham 

Calvin Lucas 

John Appling 

Lewis Pratt 

Swanzea Hart 

John Shaw of Middleboro 

Ephraim Ward of Middle- 
boro 

Gideon Perkins of Middle- 
boro 

Nathaniel Shurtleff of Mid- 
dleboro 



Elder Bursell was followed by Elder Cummings 
and these Elders left the Baptist church about 
the same time that Eev. John Shaw severed his 
connection with the old society, and at this point 
the rivalry between the two societies abated. 
Neither was in a position to ordain a minister, and 
while each should constantly repair its sectarian 
walls, they travelled together for nearly a half 
century. Then turning their backs upon the past, 
and unhampered by the necessity of modifying 
articles of faith, in a modern age each was free to 
carve out its own fortune. 




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THE BAPTIST CHURCH 169 

To add to the discouragements of this year 1815, 
both societies were without a meeting house. The 
temple of the mother society, after eighty-five 
years of wear and tear, had become too rickety 
for safety, and after fruitless efforts to repair the 
structure or build anew, the societies began to 
utilize the school houses. Religion had decayed 
with the meeting house to such an extent that the 
leaders became alarmed at ''the state of religion 
in the town," and through their united efforts 
resulted the memorable revival of 1820-23. Mis- 
sionaries were sent into the south end of the town, 
and while the people of that section declined to 
connect themselves with either of the old societies, 
they were aroused to repair their old meeting 
house, which was started on its final career. Many 
converts were made during these revival years for 
both of the societies, and as a practical result the 
new church building at the Green was built in 1823 
and the Central temple the year following. The 
fact that two edifices were erected indicates that 
in the minds of the leaders the line of cleavage 
between the societies was irreparable. 

Up to the middle of the century the societies 
continued to travel together, and even for twenty- 
five years longer the Congregationalists held ser- 
vices in the Baptist temple by virtue of shares of 
ownership, when the church was not in use by the 
Baptists. During these years, however, each so- 
ciety held its own church conferences and also 
frequent public services under ministers of its 
own persuasion. In 1834 the Articles of Faith of 
the First Baptist church of Boston were adopted 



170 HISTORY OF CARVER 

as the faith of the Carver society. The decade 
1840 to 1850 was marked by still further divisions 
in the church. The most potent factors were the 
Advent movement at the North and Methodist and 
Universalist movements at the South. 

This first half of the nineteenth century was a 
period marked by much activity in the sectarian 
world and all evidence points to the fact that the 
Baptist church of Carver played its part with 
vigor. The church was without a pastor the 
greater part of the time, but during this period 
the temple was erected and its membership largely 
increased. 

Its field was a large one, covering the Southern 
half of Carver, South Middleboro and a section of 
Eochester. It received an influx of communicants 
from South Middleboro and for a year or more it 
was called the Baptist Church of Carver and Mid- 
dleboro. Its services, previously to the building 
of its meeting house, were held in the South Meet- 
ing house, the Spruce Meeting house, and at pri- 
vate residences at Federal, South Carver and 
Fresh Meadows. 

Not only did the society work determinedly to 
make converts, but it watched carefully after the 
welfare of its devotees. A member failing to 
attend a regular meeting was visited by a commit- 
tee and required to show cause ''why they had not 
been up to their duty in attending the church to 
which they belonged. ' ' While there were numer- 
ous counts of unscriptural conduct, not a few 
of the committee's duties consisted in enquiring 
after ''the state of mind" of the suspect. In 



THE BAPTIST CHURCH 



171 



those early days of the disintegration of the 
church the Baptist church of Carver made an 
heroic effort to hold its own. Second only to 
heresy as a disturbing factor was the alarming 
increase of intemperance that showed itself from 
1825 to 1850, and this gave the church conmiittees 
many subjects for investigation. 



Ministers 

John Tripp 1791—1798 

Ezra Kendall 1804 

David Bursell 1805—1810 

Abraham Cummings 1811 — 1814 

James Parsons, 1821 

David Curtis 1832—1833 

Samuel Glover 1838—1839 

John B. Parris 1842 

Caleb Benson 1850—1851 

J. M. Mace 1852—1853 

C. S. Thompson 1864—1865 

William Leach 1865—1870 

Henry C. Coombs 1872—1873 

Noah FuUerton 1875—1879 

Joshua F. Packard 1883—1887 

Willard F. Packard 1887—1890 

James J. Tobey 1890—1893 

C. A. Parker 1894 

Joseph Ellison 1895—1899 

H. Y. Vinal 1900—1901 

Albert Leach 1902—1903 

A. Davis Graffam 1904 

George H. Lockhart 1905 — 



172 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Temporary preachers not included in preced- 
ing list : 

Elder T. Smith 1819 

Rev. Asa Niles 1834 

Rev. Perez L. Gushing 1858 

Rev. Samuel Cheever 1871 

Rev. Walter Chase 
Rev. H. W. Buckles 1881 

(Newton Theological School.) 
Rev. Wellington Camp 1882 

(Newton Theological School.) 
Rev. E. Hatfield 1883 

(Newton Theological School.) 

Clerks 

In the early days of the church the minister 
made the records on loose sheets of paper. 
Neither he nor the clerks that followed signed 
their records. In 1806 this church named a com- 
mittee to gather the loose records and copy the 
records in a book. John Drew, who served as 
clerk one year, was not a member of the society, 
but acted with it under a vote of the church. The 
following served as clerks of this church : 

John Tripp 1789—1798 
John Drew 1802 

Jacob Shaw 1803—1805 

Samuel Lucas 1806—1807 

Ebenezer Shurtleff 1808—1850 
Jacob Shaw (Middleboro branch) 1809 

Horatio A. Lucas 1853—1887 
James A. Vaughan 1888 



THE BAPTIST CHURCH 173 

Deacons 

Rowland Hammond, 1791—1801 

Billa Bryant, 1791—1808 
Jacob Shaw, ? 1802—1818 

Joseph Robbins, 1809—1833 

Ebenezer Dunham, 1810—1820 

Ebenezer Shurtleff, 1820—1850 

Ebenezer Atwood, 1823—1851 

Ephraim Dunham, 1851—1883 

Horatio A. Lucas, 1854—1887 

Samuel W. Gould, 1884—1892 

James A. Vaughan, 1890 — 

E. Allan Lucas, 1893— 



THE METHODIST CHUECH 

Rev. Lorenzo D. Johnson conducted revival 
meetings in France* school house in the spring 
of 1831, during which many conversions were 
made for the Methodist faith. The larger 
part of these conversions were residents of the 
Fresh Meadow village, and on May 18th of the 
above mentioned year Charles Ryder, as leader, 
organized a class, with the following members: 
Anna Ryder, Sumner Atwood, Thomas Maxim, 
Mary Atwood, Ichabod Shurtleff, Patience 
Maxim, Susan A. Maxim, Sylvia Shurtleff, 
Thomas Maxim, Jr., Edward P. Bumpus, Alice 
Bumpus, and Sullivan Gammons. This class at 
once affiliated with the Reformed Methodist de- 
nomination and entered upon its designed work 
with enthusiasm, holding its public services in 
school houses and private dwellings under the 
leadership of Elders Pliny Brett and Nathan T. 
Clark. 

In 1836 a second series of revival meetings 
were held, as a result of which the society ma- 
terially increased in membership and then decided 
to adopt the Methodist Protestant church disci- 
pline. For the succeeding thirty years it was 
known as the Methodist Protestant church of 
South Carver. In the words of Charles Ryder, its 

*Sehool house in South Middleboro, France St. 

175 



176 HISTORY OF CARVER 

promoter, it ''protested against the M. E. church 
government but adhered to all its fundamental 
truths of Methodism as taught by Wesley its great 
founder. ' ' 

With the spirit of a new society, the lack of 
material things did not hinder the growth of the 
church. During the following seven years public 
services were held part of the time, as before, in 
private residences, school houses, and in the South 
Meeting house. By 1843 the army had swelled to 
such proportions that the leaders felt justified in 
taking active steps toward the building of a meet- 
ing house, and in April of that year, under a war- 
rant issued by John Savery, Esq., Charles Eyder, 
Thomas Maxim, Jr., Thomas Maxim and Seth S. 
Maxim, as proprietors, voted to build a meeting 
house, and to insure its construction they signed 
for the necessary number of shares. The building 
was nominally erected under the pew-plan. 

Charles Eyder, Thomas Maxim and Ichabod 
Shurtleff were chosen trustees and also building 
committee, and so strenuously did they carry on 
the work that the edifice was dedicated on October 
20th of the same year. On that day, also, pews 
were struck off to the following, who became the 
first proprietors: Atwood Shaw, Aaron Nott, 
Charles Ryder, Thomas Maxim, Thomas Maxim, 
Jr., Seth S. Maxim, Ichabod Shurtleff, John 
Maxim, David Bates, John Thomas, Betsey Bum- 
pus, Sumner Atwood, Nathaniel Shurtleff, Nathan 
Avery, and Matthew Cushing, 

The construction of the building was financed by 
the trustees, Charles Ryder being a continual 



THE METHODIST CHURCH 177 

creditor, and to his generosity and disinterested- 
ness the project owes much of its success. 

From this point stretching through nearly two 
decades a remarkable unity marked the labors of 
the society. The first quarterly conference was 
held in the church July 17, 1847, with Eev. John 
Melish presiding. Charles Ryder was chosen 
secretary and Thomas Maxim, Ichabod Shurtleff 
and Seth S. Maxim standing committee. In 
February, 1850, Ichabod Shurtleff was chosen as 
the society's first delegate to an annual confer- 
ence. 

Beginning in December, 1857, the most remark- 
able revival in the history of the society was 
ushered in. Services were conducted in the vestry 
for upwards of one hundred consecutive nights, 
and forty names were added to the church regis- 
ter. 

In 1859 camp meetings were held in the grove 
belonging to Sumner Atwood, easterly from his 
residence; and in 1860 began the collections for 
the Home Missionary cause. 

Following this for six years the society waned. 
Some of its stanch and active members had en- 
listed in the army, while the Union society was 
making inroads in its membership. In this weak- 
ened condition the church arranged for bi-weekly 
services in conjunction with the church at South 
Middleboro, Eev. E. W. Barrows supplying both 
societies. The following year this plan was dis- 
continued, and Eev. Mr. Barrows became the set- 
tled minister of the Carver church. But his min- 
istry was not destined to end without dissensions 



178 HISTORY OF CARVER 

and in 1865 he became the first settled minister 
over the Union society, carrying with him some 
of the leaders in the Methodist society. The year 
following, discouraged by these dissensions, the 
church voted to ask for a supply from the M. E. 
conference, and under the ministry of Rev. T. 
Marsh the Methodist Protestant church became 
afifiliated with the Methodist Episcopal govern- 
ment. 

During his second ministry Rev. Mr. Hunt agi- 
tated the erection of a chapel in South Carver 
village with such success that the edifice was dedi- 
cated in December, 1896. 




THE UNION CHURCH 



THE METHODIST CHURCH 



179 



Ministers 

Elders Pliny Brett, Nathan T. Clark 

1831—1850 

William Tozer 1851 

T. M. HaU 1852 

William Tozer 1853—1856 

Pliny Brett 1857—1858 

S. Y. WaUace 1859—1861 

E. W. Barrows 1862—1864 

C. Carter and R. M. Dorr 1867 

Elisha M. Dunham 1868 

Eben Tirrell 1870 

R. M. Dorr 1871 

Paul Tounsend 1872 — 1873 

Edward Williams 1874 — 1876 

A. B. Besse 1876—1877 

William I. Ward 1878 

H. W. Hamblin 1879 

J. B. Hamblin 1880 

Charles Smith 1881 

E. A. Hunt 1882—1885 

John S. Fish 1886—1889 

J. E. Duxbury 1890 

W. E. Manley 1891 

T. P. Fisher 1892 

E. A. Hunt 1892—1897 

E. G. Babcock 1898—1902 

Charles G. Johnson 1903—1906 

E. A. Hunt 1907—1911 

Robert E. Bisbee 1912— 



THE ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

This society had its inception in the decade 
1840-1850, when fourteen members of the orthodox 
church, converted to the doctrines of William Mil- 
ler, withdrew from the old church. These primi- 
tive members of the Advent church were Louisa 
L. P. Chase, Persis Lucas, Winslow Pratt, Benja- 
min Ransom, Levi Ransom, Lucy Ransom, Phebe 
Ransom, Rebecca Ransom, Joseph Robbins, Jr., 
Patience Robbins, Eunice Vaughan, Isaac 
Vaughan, Phebe Vaughan, Waitstill Vaughan. 

The peculiar mark of this society in stationing 
ministers to work with them instead of over them 
has been attended by the natural consequence, and 
most of the pastors of the church have had other 
occupations than that of preaching. Isaac 
Vaughan was their first leader, deserving the title 
of Elder if it was never conferred. He furnished 
a room in his residence near the centre of the town 
which was used as the meeting house of the 
devotees until the breaking out of the Civil war. 
There the regular services of the sect were held, 
and there also revival meetings called together 
old and young from all sections of the town. 

When advanced age compelled Mr. Vaughan to 
relinquish the leadership, Benjamin Ransom as- 
sumed the responsibility for the work, furnishing 

181 



182 HISTORY OF CARVER 

a room in his residence near the Wenham school 
house, which was the headquarters of the Advents 
until the chapel was built in 1870. 

Up to this point the sect were held by no organi- 
zation, being a spontaneous coming together of 
those who subscribed to a common faith, but when 
the chapel was erected a formal church society 
was organized and the Advent church assumed the 
regular form, although it affiliated with no state 
organization until several years later. 

Under the conditions above noted the devotees 
of this faith have held regular services since they 
came together in 1845, and since their chapel was 
erected, although there have been years when 
there was no pastor laboring with them, their 
meeting house has never been closed. 

William E. Hathaway joined the sect in its early 
days and became a prominent worker, assuming 
the leadership with Benjamin Ransom when he 
was given the rank of Elder. Aside from his work 
as a preacher, he formed a wide acquaintance in 
the county as a peddler of dry goods. Elder I. I. 
Leslie .was also a well known preacher of that 
period, serving the society a short time, and at 
intervals, after the chapel was built. Dr. J. R. 
Boynton was associated with Elder Leslie in the 
first year of the organized work of the society, and 
became its settled pastor late in the year 1870. 
Under the ministry of Elder Boynton, small pox 
appeared in Wenham, and it fell to him as a physi- 
cian to treat those aflQicted with the malady. 

For a few years the society worked in conjunc- 
tion with the Plymouth church, and between 1875 




LEWIS PKATT, .JR. 



THE ADVENT CHURCH 183 

and 1880 Reverends John M. Curry and Frank 
Shattuck served both societies. 



Those who have been leaders of the faith since 
its establishment in Carver, either as elders or 
ministers, have been : 

Elder Isaac Vaughan 1845—1860 

Elder Benjamin Ransom 1860—1870 

Elder William E. Hathaway 1860—1875 

Elder I. I. Leslie 1870—1875 

Elder J. R. Boynton 1870—1875 
Rev. W. Smith 1876 

Rev. John M. Curry 1876—1880 
Rev. Frank Shattuck 

Rev. Charles H. Sweet 1880—1883 

Rev. Alfred R. Meade 1906—1910 

Rev. Burt J. Glazier 1910— 



The clerks since the organization of the society ; 

Rev. J. R. Boynton 1872—1875 

Austin N. Vaughan 1876—1879 

Daniel W. Nash 1880—1909 

Juha F. Hammond 1910—1911 

William E. W. Vaughan 1912— 



Those who have been chosen deacons : 

Levi Ransom 1870 
James Breach 

Dr. N. M. Ransom 1877 

D. W. Nash 1897 

WilHam E. W. Vaughan 1904 



THE UNION SOCIETY 

There appears to have been no intent on the 
part of the builders of the South Meeting house 
to break away from the established church. Their 
purpose was to erect a temple and induce the 
regular minister to hold a part of the Sunday 
services there as a convenience to the residents 
at this end of the Precinct who were located a 
distance from the old meeting house. But spurned 
by the rulers of the church, and fought every inch 
of the way by the conservatives, the proprietors of 
the new temple were forced into a receptive mood, 
and when the old order began to crumble the here- 
tics who had stepped out of the ruts found a 
forum in the South Meeting house. The Baptists 
who were the first to make the break were without 
a meeting house, and they found a welcome in this 
building; later the Universalists utilized its ac- 
commodations, and in this way the short-sighted 
policy of the old church unconsciously paved the 
way for its dissolution. 

Thus it came about that when the descendants 
of the proprietors faced the problem of replacing 
the decaying structure with a modern church 
building under the guidance of William Savery in 
1853 sectarianism was omitted from the subscrip- 
tion paper. The subscribers met in November, 
organized as proprietors, and voted to build their 

185 



186 HISTORY OF CARVER 

new building on the pew plan. William Savery 
was clerk, and Nelson Barrows treasurer of the 
organization. The temple was completed and 
turned over to the proprietors in 1855. An organ 
and bell were presented by William Savery and 
Jesse Murdock, and July 28th of that year, with an 
elaborate program, the edifice was dedicated ^'to 
the public worship of God." 

The society was non-sectarian, and the dedica- 
tory exercises were participated in by Baptists, 
Congregationalists, Universalists, Unitarians and 
Methodists, and following the custom the society 
has always given a hearing to various denomina- 
tions. 

At a subesquent meeting of the proprietors 
their affairs were vested in a Board of Trustees, 
which became the permanent form of government, 
and at the same meeting was adopted the name of 
the society, The Union Society of South Carver. 

Services have usually been held only during the 
Summer months, with ministers supplied by a 
pulpit supply committee made up from different 
sects, and with two exceptions this has always 
been the custom of the society. During the first 
year's series of services denominations were rep- 
resented as follows : One Episcopalian, two Bap- 
tists, two Unitarians, three Congregationalists, 
four Universalists and five Methodists. 

At the annual meeting in 1861 the following 
resolution was adopted unanimously : 

That a subscription list, as usual, be put in cir- 
culation to raise funds by voluntary contributions 
for support of preaching in the Union church the 




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THE UNION SOCIETY 187 

ensuing year ; but if the present war-like position 
of the country continues the funds thus contri- 
buted shall be appropriated to the comfort and 
necessities of our Carver citizen-soldiers now 
abroad, or those that may hereafter go, for the 
defence of our country; or to the support and 
honorable maintenance of their families while ab- 
sent, as the Trustees of this Society shall deem 
best calculated to secure the greatest good. 

Accordingly, the church was closed during that 
year and the funds used agreeable to the resolve. 
The same custom was followed through the suc- 
ceeding three years. 

The church was opened again for public worship 
in lj865. Eev. E. W. Barrows, who had been sta- 
tioned over the Methodist society, had developed 
a following among the members of the Union 
society, and at the annual meeting in that year 
steps were taken to settle him as the minister of 
the Union church. The free use of the edifice was 
proffered the friends of Mr. Barrows and William 
Savery appointed agent to confer in the matter. 
As a result Eev. Mr. Barrows occupied the pulpit 
as the first settled minister of the society. But his 
ministry was of short duration, and the following 
year the society resumed its former custom. 

The church was opened but six Sabbaths this 
year, three of these services being conducted by 
Rev. George L. Smith. A Swedenborgian in the- 
ology, Eev. Mr. Smith developed such a strength 
in the society that he became its second and last 
settled preacher, ending his ministry in 1873. 



188 HISTORY OF CARVER 

The building was now out of repair, and this 
with the outlay necessary for a new organ taxed 
the finances of the society, and the church was 
closed for the year 1874. The year following it 
went back to its first custom of supplying the 
pulpit through an undenominational supply com- 
mittee — a custom that has been continued without 
a lapse. 

The last decade of the century revealed the 
weakness of a church founded on the pew-plan, 
and the annual meetings of the proprietors dwin- 
dled to stereotyped and lifeless meetings. As a 
matter of fact, the changes of time had almost 
capsized the little craft. Proprietors had died, 
moved away or assigned, and even the bona fide 
pew holders that were left were weary of time and 
they saw the necessity of placing their society on 
a more modern and permanent basis. As a result 
of this agitation the society was incorporated in 
1908 with sixty-three charter members under the 
old name : The Union Society of South Carver. 

Following is the list of the original proprietors, 
many of them heirs of the proprietors of the South 
Meeting house. It was their first intention to 
erect this building on the site of the old one : 

Thomas Wrightington (1), Daniel Shaw (2), 
Joseph Atwood (3), Thomas Southworth, Jr., 
(4), Jesse Murdock (5, 8, 27, 33, 35), Matthias 
Ellis (6, 15, 32), George P. Bowers (7, 14), Joseph 
Barrows (9), Ellis Griffith (10, 20), Stephen At- 
wood (11), Marcus Atwood (12), Stephen Cush- 
man (13), Capt. Samuel Shaw (16), Sampson Mc- 
Farlin (17), Ira C. Bent (18), Capt. Henry C. 



THE UNION SOCIETY 189 

Murdock (19), Miranda, Lucius, George W. At- 
wood (21), John Murdock (22), Zenas Tillson 
(23), Oren Atwood (24), John Shaw, 2d, (25), 
Silas Shaw (26), Bowers and Jenkins (28, 29), 
Salmon F. Jenkins (30), Polly Savery (31), Han- 
nah Weston (34), Andrew M. Bumpus and John 
Bradley (36), Perez Shaw (37), Jacob Holmes and 
Eli Southworth (38), Thompson P. Thomas (39), 
William B. Gibbs (40), William Savery (41, 43, 
44), Samuel Vaughan (42). Transfers from orig- 
inal ownership were made by warranty deed, sup- 
posed to be recorded with Plymouth County Reg- 
istry of Deeds. 

Presidents of the Society 



Jesse Murdock 




1853- 


-1874 


Capt. Daniel Shaw 






1875 


George P. Bowers 


1876, 


78 80, 82 84 


Capt. H. C. Murdock 






1877 


R. C. Freeman 






1881 


Peleg McFarlin 




1885- 


-1904 


Alfred M. Shaw 




1905- 


-1907 


Thomas M. Southworth 






1908 


Treasurers 






Joseph Barrows 




1853- 


-1865 


Rufus C. Freeman 




1867- 


-1868 


Nelson Barrows 




1869, ' 


72, 84 


Peleg McFarhn 




1873- 


-1883 


Ellis Maxim 




1885- 


-1895 


Josiah W. Atwood 




1896- 


-1908 


Secretaries 






William Savery 




1853- 


-1895 


John Bent 




1896- 


-1908 



190 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Those who served 
proprietors : 

Marcus Atwood 
Lucius Atwood 
Josiah W. Atwood 
S. Dexter Atwood 
Joseph Barrows 
D. M. Bates 
Ira C. Bent 
John Bent 
George P. Bowers 
John S. Cartee 
Rufus C. Freeman 
William B. Gibbs 
Andrew Griffith 
Henry S. Griffith 
S. F. Jenkins 
A. R. Kinney 



as trustees in the life of the 

Thomas Maxim 
Peleg McFarlin 
Jesse Murdock 
Henry C. Murdock 
John Murdock 
William Savery 
William E. Savery 
Daniel Shaw 
John F. Shaw 
Samuel Shaw 
Alfred M. Shaw 
Ichabod Shurtleff 
Perez Smith 
Thomas M. Southworth 
Augustus F. Tillson 
Samuel Vaughan 




HON. PELEd MeFARLIN 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 

The dawn of the 18th century broke upon a New 
England busy in the twilight of a new era, and 
tbe folly of relying upon importations for many 
of the necessities which could be made at home 
came to the attention of the people. Under such 
conditions Yankee ingenuity was developed, and 
a spirit of enterprise quickened into life the dor- 
mant resources of the Old Colony. 

Three factors were essential to the equipment 
of an iron manufactory of that age, and these 
three abounded in the South Precinct of Plymp- 
ton. The swamps and lakes were bedded with 
iron ore ; the hills were burdened with good coal- 
ing timber; and the swamps and hills combined 
formed numerous water privileges without whicli 
there was no power to operate a plant. If the 
question of transportation entered into the reck- 
oning, the proximity of the locality to tide water 
on either coast must have been a favorable point. 
Sea shells that abounded on the coast furnished 
the lime necessary for separating the iron, and 
these shells with native charcoal served the pur- 
poses of the smelting furnaces until lime and 
anthracite became articles of commerce and smelt- 
ing furnaces were supplanted by cupola furnaces 
about a century later. As these smelting furnaces 
are a thing of the past, a brief reference to the 

191 



192 HISTORY OF CARVER 

conditions under which they were operated, with a 
description of their mechanical construction, de- 
serves a place in history. 

Selecting a site where a dam could be con- 
structed the arch or furnace was located so as to 
make a connection with the water wheel. The 
furnace was built of stone, lined with fire brick, 
and leading up to the top house which was built 
over the arch was made an inclined runway up 
which the ore, shells and coal were carried in a 
wheelbarrow. The building extended from the 
tophouse and in cases of large plants wings were 
added all leading to the furnace. 

Along the walls of the wings bunks were con- 
structed in which the workmen slept, for the blast 
usually lasted a month and the iron was trickling 
constantly from the furnace. When the temp* 
was full it must be taken away and so the work 
was in continuous progress, moulders moulding 
and casting at all hours of night and day, for when 
the fires went out the process must begin over 
again. 

The general superintendent of the works as- 
sumed the title of skipper ; the man stationed over 
the tophouse and whose duty was to feed the fur- 
nace with coal, ore and shells was called the top- 
man; while his assistant who worked around the 
base performing all sorts of work that did not 
fall within the prescribed duties of any other em- 
ployee took the appropriate name of gutterman. 



*Teinp was the technical name of the stone trough -which re- 
ceived the iron as it trickled from the furnace. 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 193 

The fires were kindled in the furnace about one 
week in advance of the opening of the blast. 

A store was a necessary adjunct of a furnace 
for business was done largely on credit and barter. 
Molasses, W. I. rum, codfish and pork were the 
standard stock in trade and accounts were carried 
from year to year. Often the skipper took the 
contract to furnish the men and their supplies 
in which case the regular allowance of rum was a 
clause in the indenture. A review of these "low- 
ance ' ' accounts reveals a temperance lecture of the 
times. Many of the employees appear to have 
more than their share of black marks while some 
have but few if any records. It is probable that 
the thrifty turned their marks to their financial 
advantage. 

The power for operating the plant was derived 
from the combination of a bellows, a water wheel 
and a huge beam weighted with rocks and extend- 
ing out into the road. The wheel carried the end 
of the beam down and opened the wind chest, and 
after being freed from the wheel the weight on 
the beam ejected the wind by closing the bellows. 

Coaling developed among neighboring farmers 
as a business incidental to the furnaces. The 
numerous ''coalpit bottoms" seen about the woods 
is standing evidence of this industry, for a cen- 
tury has not restored the life-giving quality of 
the soil. Brush making was also an industry, but 
the market for the product of the saw mills made 
by the demand for lumber in making the flask* 

*Flask is the technical name of the boxes in which the moulds 
are made. That part of the mould that is lifted is called the cope, 
and the part that remains on the floor is called the nowel. 



194 HISTORY OF CARVER 

and furnace buildings was the largest incidental 
industry. 

The casual traveller through the quiet village 
called Popes Point would be impressed by the 
dark color of the soil and without a suggestion 
might be justified in assuming that once upon a 
time a blast furnace spit out its coal dust and 
cinders which as refuse went to harden the road 
bed, leaving literally "footprints on the sands of 
time. ' ' And if the traveller had a historical curi- 
osity, he might ask how the place came to receive 
its name. 

The name appears in Old Colony records in 
1704, but as such names grow by usage sometimes 
years before they get sufficiently grounded to give 
them a place in the public records, it is probable 
that the name was used long before the dawn of 
the 18th century. 

As a part of the lower South Meadows this 
vicinity attracted the settlers as they branched 
out from old Plymouth, and forty years after the 
landing of the Pilgrims, Thomas Pope and George 
Watson held land grants. The property of Pope, 
forming a point of land at the junction of Wat- 
son's Cove brook and the Weweantic came to be 
known as Popes Point, a name that in after years 
was applied to that region. Watson took the land 
further up the brook in what is now known as 
Eocky Meadow cove. Among Watson's descend- 
ants was a grandson, Jonathan Shaw, who prob- 
ably came into possession of the property through 
inheritance and who ceded the water privilege 
with sufficient of the adjacent land for the first 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 195 

iron manufactory that embarked in that business 
in Plympton. 

The village of Popes Point reached the prime 
of its glory during and shortly after the Revo- 
lution. The Shurtlefe family had prospered 
nearly a century on the estate eastward of Quit- 
ticus road, and Barnabas was one of the promo- 
ters of the first furnace; Capt. Joshua Perkins 
with his family lived on the old farm on the 
easterly side of the Lakenham road while a son 
Luke had a blacksmith shop on the site later occu- 
pied by Bents mill and a residence where stands 
the shop of Rufus L. Richards. A saw mill was 
located on the other branch of the brook where it 
crosses the Rocky Gutter road and later the black- 
smith shop of Abial Thomas stood on the Middle- 
boro side. Coal houses, ware houses and dwel- 
lings that have long since gone to decay went to 
make up the thriving village. 

The furnace building stood on the east side of 
the road between the Stephen Atwood farm and 
the John Bent homestead. The raceway and 
brook were filled in by the orders of the town in 
1845. The store stood on a site northerly from 
the Stephen Atwood house, on the corner of 
Pope's Point road and the Rocky Gutter road; the 
boarding house on the opposite side of the Carver 
road a little to the north. The furnace building 
was a structure that excited the pride of the vil- 
lage people. The water wheel that furnished the 
power was a massive affair standing thirty feet 
in the air. Long after the works were discon- 
tinued the wheel stood as a plaything for the vil- 
lage boys and girls of the neighborhood. 



196 HISTORY OF CARVER 

In 1735 Jonathan Shaw, whom we have seen in- 
herit the property from his grandfather, ceded 
the privilege and land on Watsons Cove brook 
conditionally as may be seen, to Isaac Lothrop, 
Esq., Isaac Lothrop, Jr., Lazarus Lebarron, John 
Cooper of Plymouth; and George Barrows, 
Samuel Lucas, Elisha Lucas, Barnabas Shurtleff, 
Abel Crocker, Isaac Waterman, Isaac Churchill, 
John Shaw and Joseph Lucas of Plympton — ' ' for 
divers good causes but principally and more es- 
pecially for the encouragement and ye erecting of 
a furnace or new iron works at a place called 
Popes Point in ye town of Plympton — at a place 
on said land where it shall be most convenient to 
locate a furnace, coal house or coal houses, pot 
house or pot houses, dwelling house or dwelling 
houses, or any other building that may be neces- 
sary for carrying on said business — also right to 
a dam already made on Watsons Cove brook and 
flow land from Sept. 1st to March 31st. — two 
acres of land for a coal yard and mine yard — the 
deed to remain in force so long as the men, or 
the major part of them, keep up the furnace or 
iron works." 

Such was the indenture that gave birth to the 
industry that built up the village of Popes Point. 
As the smelting was done with wood and charcoal, 
an incidental business of making charcoal was es- 
tablished which has left its marks in numerous 
sterile spots in the surrounding country, farmers 
for miles around engaging in the work as a side 
issue. Ore was brought for miles from Carver 
and adjacent towns and this was no small feature 
of the industry of the times. 



FUKNACES AND FOUNDRIES 197 

Hollow ware comprised the bulk of the products 
of this plant. Pots, kettles, tea kettles,* caul- 
drons, flat irons, bake pans, and fire dogs or and- 
irons were the staple articles of manufacture. 
The furnace was in operation upwards of a cen- 
tury, a record equaled only by the Charlotte. A 
few of the last years of the operation of the plant 
was as a cupola furnace ; the last blast was in 1836. 

Among the proprietors after the first firm had 
dwindled away were Skipper John Bent, Skipper 
Nathaniel Shaw, Seth Morton, Major Branch 
Harlow, Thomas Weston, and last of all Samuel 
Briggs and Joshua Eddy under the firm name of 
Briggs & Eddy. 

It is easy to look back to those farmer-residents 
of 1735 and note what enthusiasm was kindled in 
their souls at the prospect of the establishment of 
an iron manufactory in their community. As the 
monotony of agriculture was the rule of their lives, 
importing their ware in the main, little was known 
of the art of making it, and the curiosity of the 
inhabitants must have been aroused as they 
watched the progress of the new industrial ven- 
ture, and perhaps our curiosity would be aroused 
too if we could witness the way the first iron 
moulders went about their task. 

The boys and girls wandering over the region, 
little dreamed of the intrinsic value of the ore 
under their feet, for their untrained eyes saw 
nothing but repulsive dirt in the red water that 



*A favorite tradition says the first tea-kettle made in America 
was moulded in this furnace. This tradition is not supported. 



198 HISTORY OF CARVER 

trickled from the springs, but older heads saw the 
opportunity, hence by the time Popes Point vil- 
lage began to thrive as a manufacturing com- 
munity most of the residents of the South Pre- 
cinct of Plympton had become workers of iron, or 
vitally interested in some of its incidental 
branches. 

The operation of Popes Point furnace created 
a demand for bog ore that gave life to industrial 
Plimpton and the swamps and ponds were re- 
garded as valuable properties. A rich bed of this 
ore was found in Sampsons pond and tributary 
coves which was being turned to a source of profit 
to the abutters when the officials of the town 
raised the point that the bog was public property. 
The matter found its way into Town meeting in 
1749, where the private claimants were defeated 
and agents appointed to guard the interests of 
the public. After a few years of clashing between 
these factions the courts decided in favor of the 
private claimants and the pond passed to the con-i 
trol of George Barrows and Bartlett Murdock 
who in 1758 signed an indenture whereby a line 
was established extending from a point on the 
northerly shore to a point near the connection of 
Sampsons brook. Barrows to have the ore on the 
westerly side of the line, and Murdock the ore on 
the easterly side, while each was bound to guard 
the property of the other against poachers. 

In 1760 Bartlett Murdock began active work 
towards the construction of his first furnace and 
in 1761 seven-eighths of the land and business 
was conveyed to the following which comprised 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 199 

the promoters and first partnership that operated 
Charlotte* furnace: James Hovey and William 
Thomas of Plymouth; James Murdock, Nathaniel 
Atwood, Benjamin Shurtleff, Peleg Barrows, 
John Bridgham, Frances Sturtevant, Benjamin 
Barrows, Nathaniel Atwood, Jr. and Joseph Bar- 
rows of PljTupton; and Robert Sturtevant and 
Benjamin Curtice of Halifax. 

A few years later Lieut. Thomas Drew began 
to buy straggling shares of the company and in 
1784 he had come into possession of 23/32 of the 
business, which in that year was transferred to 
Joshua Eddy of Middleboro. After six years of 
control, Eddy sold the plant to a partnership of 
local investors and furnacemen. These early 
owners conducted the business through the most 
trying years of their country's history. 

The plant had not been fairly established when 
it was hit by the ante-revolutionary times with 
their agitations and unsettled business standards. 
This period was followed by seven years of de- 
structive war to be followed in turn by the critical 

*Charlotte furnace is supposed to have taken its name from 
Queen Charlotte, wife of George II, who was on the throne when 
the works were established. This name also, later abbreviated to 
' ' The Furnace, ' ' was applied to the village surrounding the works, 
and not until after the Civil War did it acquire its modern name 
of South Carver. 

In 1872 Matthias Ellis, Peleg McFarlin and Nathaniel S. Cush- 
ing embarked in the iron business in Kentucky at a place and 
postoffice named Charlotte Furnace in honor of this furnace. When 
the enterprise was conceived iron was selling at sixty dollars a ton, 
but when the new firm placed its first shipment on the market the 
price had dropped to sixteen dollars. Hence the brief career of 
the Southern adjunct. 



200 HISTORY OF CARVER 

period during which the country was in a state 
bordering on anarchy. Throughout this period, 
stretching from 1760 to 1790, the finances of the 
country were in such a chaotic state as to render 
stable business impossible, the currency varied in 
purchasing power from the low level in the ante- 
war years to the most alarming inflation in the 
life and decline of the Continental currency, and 
the best to be expected in the line of business 
rested in barter. To this system the early oper- 
ators of the furnace adjusted their business with 
as good degree of success as could have been ex- 
pected under such circumstances. 

The new firm that assumed control of the busi- 
ness in 1790 was composed of Benjamin White, 
Bartlett Murdock, Jr., Eowland Leonard & Co., 
Nathaniel Atwood and Skipper John Bent. 
These were all practical furnacemen whose les- 
sons had been learned in the school of experience 
in the days that turned the hard side to the front 
and under their management the plant was 
destined to reach the highest point of success in 
its career up to that date. Coupled with the prac- 
tical knowledge of affairs on the part of the 
management was the improvement in the con- 
dition of national finances and the well established 
confidence and stability under the Constitution. 

A decade of prosperity naturally ensued. As 
native ore could not be procured in abundance to 
meet the demands of the increasing business, Jer- 
sey ore was imported through Wareham wharfs, 
while an increased demand came for shells, coal, 
lumber and ore of neighboring farmers. As a 





HON. JKSSE MURDOCK 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 201 

result of the business for 1793-94, the first really 
successful year of the firm, the owners had on 
hand as dividends 157 tons, 2 cwt. 3 qr. and 10 
lbs. of ware valued at nine pounds per ton. 

Each of the proprietors assumed his place in 
the industry. Murdock, White and Bent were 
blacksmiths and they found useful employment for 
their accomplishments around the plant making 
flasks, ironing flasks, repairing, etc. Leonard & 
Co. and Atwood furnished supplies and made 
themselves useful in any way which came within 
their limits. Nathaniel Standish was the most 
prominent employee, and in addition to his skill as 
a moulder and maker of iron he practiced his 
natural instinct for business in boarding the 
moulders, furnishing the ''lowance rum," etc., 
through which the balance due him at the end of 
the year compared with the amounts due the 
owners. Bartlett Murdock and John Bent of the 
firm also improved their spare time at their trade 
as moulders. 

The following are known to have shared in the 
prosperity of the furnace during the decade either 
as employees or furnishers of supplies : 

Moulders 

David Bonney Thomas Barrows 

Seth Bonney Elijah Crocker 

Joseph Bonney John Samson 

Nathaniel Standish E. Bonney 

Jabez Loring Nathaniel Bonney 

lehabod Tillson Benjamin Cartee 

Robert Sturtevant Union Keith 



202 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



John Freelove 
Lieut. Caleb Atwood 
Benjamin Waterman 
T. Rogers Waterman 
Jabez Hall 
Caleb Benson 
Elisha Murdock 
Samuel White 
Joseph Ellis 



Experience Bent 
Ebenezer Atwood 
Obed Griffith 
Swanzea Hart 



Benjamin Ellis 
Bartlett Murdock, Jr. 
Bartlett Murdock 
John Bent 
Ichabod Waterman 
Salmon Washburn 
Nathaniel Shurtleff 
John ]\Iurdock 
Stephen Bennett 

Topmen 

Salathiel Perry 
Henry Richmond 
Noah Wood 
Simeon Morse 



Guttermen 

Thomas Shurtleff (minor) Nathaniel Shurtleff 
Thomas Barrows 

Among the employees of this period who were 
destined to play an important part in the develop- 
ment of the iron industry in this region were 
Benjamin Ellis and Bartlett Murdock, while John 
Savery, as a ten year old boy, loafing around the 
works may be presumed to have there received the 
inspiration for his future career. Ellis and 
Savery began their careers as guttermen and later 
developed into moulders. From November, 1794, 
to February, 1795, Ellis earned as a moulder 27 
pounds, 10 shillings and 4 pence equal to thirty 
dollars per month which at that time was con- 
sidered princely wages. When not engaged at his 
trade he improved his time housing coal or at any 
job that came within his reach, and he was con- 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 203 

sidered the best all-round furnaceman connected 
with the works. In the light of subsequent events 
it is easy to read the nature of his dreams for in 
1800 he began to buy shares in the business and 
by 1808 he owned a controling interest. In this 
broader field he retained the services of Bartlett 
Murdock and John Savery until each had gradu- 
ated from his school to establish iron works of 
their own. 

The marital connections of Ellis served to keep 
the business in his family. He married a 
daughter of Bartlett Murdock, Jr., and in 1810, 
while he held 13/24 of the business the balance was 
owned as follows : Jesse Murdock 7/24, Deborah 
Murdock 2/24, Joseph Ellis and Benjamin Shurt- 
leff 1/24 each. The firm now assumed the name 
of Benjamin Ellis & Co. under which it was con- 
ducted with success for a half century. 

In the early years of the industry, traders 
among neighboring farmers found profitable em- 
ployment peddling ware. Moulders accepted a 
portion of their wages in the products of the plant 
which they peddled and traded between blasts. 
In some instances ware passed as tender notably 
in the construction of the South Meeting house 
by whose proprietors it was accepted from its 
promoters on subscription both on account of 
construction and later on account of repairs. 

The furnace building stood on the southerly 
side of the dam on the site on which the last build- 
ing was built in 1874. The plant was destroyed 
twice at least by fire, once about 1808 and again in 
1872. A boarding house was conducted in con- 



204 HISTORY OF CARVER 

nection with the foundry; also a building for 
housing the employees called the Lodging House. 
This latter building stood northerly from the fur- 
nace building on the north side of the dam. 

The store in connection with the plant which 
stood near Furnace pond on the northerly side of 
the road was the centre of activities for there the 
moulders and farmers met for business and social 
purposes. The business interests were not con- 
fined to the management and its employees for it 
included many of the thrifty of this and surround- 
ing towns who carted coal and ore to Charlotte 
and opened ledger accounts with the company. 
Liquors were sold over the counter by the glass, 
gill or pint and charged on account. Farmers 
found their provisions at the store and received 
credit for ore, coal, lumber, hides, pork, etc. The 
more thrifty ones even deposited cash on account 
and received interest on unsettled balances. Thus 
the store of B. Ellis & Co. partook of the nature of 
a banking house, and in this institution local capi- 
talists found an opportunity for investment while 
the young firm found capital with which to con- 
duct its increasing trade before bank discounts be- 
came general accommodations of commercial life. 

The second war with Great Britain gave Ellis 
his opportunity. Whether he shared the prevail- 
ing sentiment which was arrayed so bitterly 
against that conflict or not, he did not permit his 
political prejudice to interfere with his business 
instincts and he hastened to sign contracts with 
the general government which severely taxed his 
ability to fulfil. But by sub-contracting and ren- 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 205 

tal of other plants he emerged from the deal with 
a financial strength that placed him in the front 
ranks of New England manufacturers. The most 
important of the out-side plants pressed into ser- 
vice was the idle works up the Cranebrook which 
B. Ellis & Co. conducted through the rush under 
the superintendency of Col. Bartlett Murdock. 

After the war was ended, and with a surplus of 
capital, the firm was in a position to extend its 
trade. It began to own its vessels through which 
ore was landed at Wareham, and an extensive 
teaming business flourished between the plant and 
the wharf. Vessel loads of ware were also sent 
up and down the coast from Bangor to New 
Orleans. The Maine trade thus established con- 
tinued through the various managements of the 
plant to the end of the career of Ellis Foundry 
Company. 

Jesse Murdock inherited the sceptre from Ellis 
and during the last half of this management he 
was the guiding genius of the business. In 1860 
the firm of Benj. Ellis & Co. was dissolved and the 
new firm of Matthias Ellis & Co. assumed control 
of the business. This new company was com- 
posed of Matthias Ellis, Joseph Ellis and Charles 
Threshie,* and under this management the busi- 



*Charles Threshie was a native of Scotland who settled in New 
Orleans, where he engaged in the hardware trade with Joseph 
Ellis, who migrated to that city from Carver. When the Civil 
War broke out the partners sacrificed their business and hurried 
North through lack of sympathy with the Southern cause. Mr. 
Threshie continued as a leading spirit in the foundry management 
until his death in 1873. 



206 HISTORY OF CARVER 

ness was continued until it was incorporated 
under the name of the Ellis Foundry Company 
in 1872. The corporation stock was owned by 
Gerard Tobey, Peleg McFarlin and Edward 
Avery. Peleg McFarlin was the treasurer and 
general manager of the corporation until its disso- 
lution in 1904. 

The earliest products of the plant were hollow 
ware of a common assortment which included 
crane pats, long leg kettles, spiders and andirons. 
Tea kettles were made from the beginning and the 
plant was always regarded as a hollow ware 
centre. Up to 1860 tea kettles were made in four 
part flasks with a dry sand core when twelve was 
considered a day's work per man. At this date 
the two part flask, green sand core, came into use 
and the product of the day's labor was doubled. 
The manufacture of aluminum tea kettles and 
other aluminum ware began in 1885. 

During the war of 1812-14 cannon balls and 
other missiles of war were turned out, and follow- 
ing the war the furnace kept pace with material 
changes. Franklin fire place frames, Dubois and 
Hathaway stoves were among the principal pro- 
ducts of this period. In the decade 1830 to 1840 
the furnace was changed to a cupola furnace and 
charcoal was supplanted by anthracite. 

With this change came also a change in the pro- 
ducts of the plant. Continental and Cape Cod 
cook stoves became popular sellers, followed 
closely by airtights, cabooses, coral and box 
stoves, and in the last days of the plant gas bur- 
ners and Arbutus Grand ranges. 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 207 

The manufacture of farmers boilers was start- 
ed about 1860, and these proved to be the most 
popular products of the foundry. They were 
shipped in large quantities to the Western and 
Pacific States and to European countries. Dur- 
ing the last half century of the operation of the 
plant there was a wide diversity in its products. 
This included all forms of hollow ware, both iron 
and aluminum, frames, grates, sinks, funnels, 
cauldrons, stable fixtures and miscellaneous job- 
bing. 

The last crew that operated this plant, and also 
the last crew to operate a foundry in Carver was 
composed of the following: Donald McFarlin, 
foreman; Carl Z. Southworth, melter; William 
and Joseph Hayden, assistant melters ; Nelson F. 
Manter, carpenter, and the following moulders: 
Frederick Anderson, Z. W. Andrews, Albert F. 
Atwood, Samuel B. Briggs, Lemuel N. Crocker, E. 
Lloyd Griffith, Orlando P. Griffith, Orville K. 
Griffith, Charles Kelley, John B. McFarlin, Ed- 
ward Paro, John Piercon, Ephraim E. Stringer, 
Charles F. Washburn, George H. Westgate, 
Howard G. Westgate, Rufus S. Westgate and 
John A. Winberg. 

Federal furnace was established in 1793 on the 
site of a saw mill. Long after this plant had been 
abandoned one of the survivors of the last crew 
that operated it was roaming under the decaying 
structure with a well known character of that 
locality hailed as Uncle Ben Wrightington. 
Uncle Ben was not versed in letters to the extent 
of being able to distinguish one figure from an- 



208 HISTORY OF CARVER 

other, but when his companion asked him when 
the furnace was built he understood the nature of 
the question. "Come here," he replied in his 
characteristic style, and leading the way to the 
crumbling arch and brushing the dust from a huge 
rock that entered into its construction he pointed 
to the date chiseled out of the granite. For the 
first two decades of its history this plant was 
known only as the furnace but after it was 
operated for the manufacture of shot for the war 
of 1812-14 it acquired the name which comes down 
to lis. 

It is not probable that there was any settlement 
of importance in that region at that time. Uncle 
Ben resided on his old homestead to the south on 
the corner of Federal road and Mayflower road, 
attracted no doubt by the mill that had been 
operated on the stream, but with this exception the 
country was a wilderness until the furnace build- 
ing with its store, boarding house and one or two 
dwellings, gave rise to the thrifty little village in 
the woods. For several years beginning with 
1808 a school was maintained in that vicinity. 

The original partnership which established and 
operated the furnace was made up of veterans of 
the Eevolutionary cause with Gen. Silvanus Lazell 
as the moving spirit. The General was a pioneer 
in the development of the iron trade and being im- 
pressed with the natural advantages of the lo- 
cality in 1793 he purchased of Capt. Joshua Eddy 
two-thirds of the water power, saw mill and other 
buildings with several acres of land and trans- 
ferred a one-half interest in his purchase to Gen. 




EBEN D. SHAW 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 209 

Nathaniel Goodwin, John Eeed, Dr. James 
Thatcher, Dr. Nathan Hayward and Friend 
White, all of Plymouth. 

Eeed transferred his interests to Goodwin in 
1796; Lazell sold his claim in 1817 and Goodwin 
died in 1818. It is not probable that this first 
firm operated the plant more than ten years. It 
was idle when the second war with Great Britain 
broke out when it was rented for a limited time. 

Benjamin Ellis who had signed contracts with 
the government leased this idle plant and put it in 
motion under the superintendency of Col. Bartlett 
Murdock. The war was unpopular and this 
management interested in the conflict in a busi- 
ness way found it advisable to employ a watch- 
man for protection against incendiaries. And 
this precaution was not altogether fruitless, for 
a would be incendiary was detected by the watch- 
man in the act of applying the torch but was pre- 
vented from accomplishing his purpose by a gun 
from the monitor. Imagination ran riot for a 
time but it was finally decided that the culprit was 
one well known sympathizer of the anti-war cause. 

The plant was not destined to remain idle after 
the lease of Ben. Ellis & Co. expired. John Bent 
was a practical furnaceman who had served an 
apprenticeship at Popes Point, Charlotte and 
possibly another furnace from which he had been 
advanced to the position and style of skipper. 
This was but a degree below that of proprietor, 
and being squeezed out of Charlotte by the rising 
power of Ben. Ellis, the skipper saw in the idle 
works up the Cranebrook one more opportunity 



210 HISTORY OF CARVER 

of gratifying his ambition to take the last degree 
in the iron trade. Hence in 1817, in company with 
Timothy Savery of Wareham, he came into posses- 
sion of the works and started them in operation 
Tinder the firm name of Bent & Savery. The 
firm fell short of the desired end and in 1828 the 
plant was sold to a partnership composed of John 
W. Griffith, Seabury Murdock, Alvin Perkins, 
Caleb Wright, Stephen Wright, John Bumpus, 
Hervey Dunham, Henry Wrightington and Mar- 
stin Cobb. The purchase was not a profitable one 
and the new firm did not succeed in operating 
their works. 

It is probably that the management of Bent and 
Savery ended the blast furnace regime and when 
the firm of ? ? I ? ? ? and Holmes took the business 
for a brief time in 1830 a cupola was placed in 
front of the old arch which was discarded but not 
removed. The exact time this firm operated the 
plant is not evident but it had remained idle a 
year or more when the last firm started the wheel 
in 1837. 

Ellis who had made his fortune in the iron trade 
had become interested in a young protege whom 
he had found in Plymouth and saw in the Federal 
furnace an opportunity, and he said to his young 
friend George P. Bowers, ^'why don't you and 
Joe Pratt hire the Federal furnace and go in busi- 
ness for yourselves ? ' ' Although a sanguine youth 
the thought of getting so high at one step as to be 
the proprietor of a furnace had not bothered the 
boy's mind, and as for Pratt it transpired that he 
had no ambition to stoop so low. Pratt was a 




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FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 211 

school teacher with a taste and ambition for litera- 
ture, who had conducted the little school on Indian 
Brook about four years and at that time he was 
under contract for a large school in a neighboring 
town. 

Squire Ellis had full faith in the opportunity, 
and young Bowers was a plausible talker, and 
the possibilities of business advancements were 
painted in such glowing colors before the vision 
of the school master, and so persistent, that a 
literary career was demolished, a teaching con- 
tract annulled, one more son-in-law secured for 
Squire Ellis, and a new firm launched called 
Bowers & Pratt. 

Through the interest of their benefactor the 
works were put in good condition and when the 
young associates met on the field with their force 
of employees everything appeared bran new. 
The owners seem to have been more interested in 
keeping up appearances than in earning divi- 
dends, for the firm was under contract to pay an 
annual rental of one hundred dollars and every 
cent of it was to be expended in repairs. 

Bowers & Pratt soon yearned for a larger 
field. It seemed to them that their chances for 
advancement were penned in Plymouth woods. 
In confirmation of their judgment it must be seen 
that conditions had radically changed since the 
Federal furnace was founded. All of their raw 
materials must be imported and all of their pro- 
ducts exported. Bog ore, what there was left, laid 
useless in the neighboring swamps, coaling timber 
stood on the hills but it had no place in the new 



212 HISTORY OF CARVER 

methods of operating iron works, and a larger 
centre with modern facilities for handling freight 
and workmen, seemed to be indispensable. In 
such a frame of mind the firm started its wheel in 
1841, but the breaking of their dam in October of 
that year abruptly ended their enterprise on the 
Cranebrook. They decided not to repair the 
break, but moved their business to Roxbury where 
they established the Highland Foundry Co. 

The furnace was originally, and for the greater 
part of its active operation, a hollow ware manu- 
factory. Pots, kettles, spiders, bake pans, and- 
irons, etc., formed the bulk of its output. Govern- 
ment supplies were made in 1812-14, and Bowers 
& Pratt commenced the manufacture of stoves. 

In the last jolly days* of the old plant Bowers 
& Pratt lived there, unmarried, and proprietors 



*The nature of the iron trade gave rise to a spirit of fun and 
repartee that has enriched our traditions, and there is unmistakable 
evidence that the employees of the furnaces were the best patrons 
of the taverns. Every moulder had a nickname and when a new 
man or boy entered the shop a christening was in order and many 
of the old furnacemen are known only by their sobriquet to the 
present generation. At a time when the employees of Charlotte 
who lived within hailing distance of the works raised pigs as a 
side line a custom developed of visiting each other after the day's 
work was done to compare pigs, and on these social calls the treat 
was an iron rule. Naturally this custom was abused by some who 
had no interest in the size of porkers, but who did have an interest 
in the treat. On one occasion a moulder known as Capt. Gurney, 
who had no pig, thus accosted a fellow workman whose sobriquet 
was Bug, after the day's work: 

"Well Bug, guess I'll come down and see your pig tonight. 
Going to be at home, ain't you?" 

' ' Don 't make any difference whether I 'm at home or not, ' ' 
retorted Bug, "you can come just the same. The pig will be 
there. ' ' 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 213 

of the boarding house. Betsey Atwood and Hope 
Tillson were cooks ; Ellis Shaw, carpenter ; Zoath 
Wright and Joseph Bent, ware dressers ; Skipper 
Edmund Bump, melter. Salmon Atwood headed 
the list of moulders making heavy andirons, and 
from the nature of his work doomed to take the 
last or cinder iron every day ; John Bump, Lewis 
Pratt, Ephraim Pratt (killed in a California 
mine), Sylvanus Griffith (drowned in Boston har- 
bor), Lothrop Barrows, Isaac L. Dunham, George 
Oobb, James Wright, Harrison Shaw and Chan- 
dler Bobbins. 

In 1819, a temporary plant was established at 
Slug pond near Wankinco. This was conducted 
by Ben. Ellis & Co. under the superintendency 
of Lewis Pratt, only during the Winter months 
until 1824. The probable object of this plant was 
to utilize the ore from the Wankinco swamps, and 
as cinder iron was carted to the works from Char- 
lotte the works may have been a pig manufactory. 
It is known that only the coarsest of moulding was 
done there, and during this period Ellis & Co. 
supplied raw iron to plants in Wareham and 
Taunton, 

The Pratt & Ward furnace was built by Col. 
Benjamin Ward and Lewis Pratt in 1824. Estab- 
lished on the dam and water privilege now used as 
a reservoir by South Meadow Cranberry Co. 
The firm dissolved in 1827. 

The first furnace in Wenham was built by Lewis 
Pratt near Wenham brook in 1827. The products 
of the plant at that time were fireplace iron ware, 
wagon wheel boxes, andirons, stoves, and cast- 



214 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

ings for Plymouth merchants. Charcoal furnace 
changed to anthracite in 1834. Foundry was kept 
in operation until it was burned in 1840. 

In 1841 Lewis Pratt and son (Lewis) bought the 
Pratt & Ward buildings, water privilege, etc., 
moved the cupola and flasks from Wenham, and 
began the operation of this foundry which they 
continued until 1852 making stoves and hollow 
ware. In that year the firm dissolved, and Lewis 
Pratt, Jr., moved the cupola and flasks back to 
"Wenham and rebuilt the foundry on Wenham 
brook, in 1855, which he conducted in company 
with his sons until it was again burned in 1866. 
The works were immediately rebuilt by Matthias 
Pratt and burned again in 1869. It was rebuilt 
by Matthias and Joseph Pratt and operated until 
1887, when it was abandoned and its proprietors 
established their works at Campello. Stove re- 
pair work and funnel irons were the main part of 
the products of this foundry during its later years. 

In 1844 a foundry was established by Benjamin 
Cobb and others near the present residence of 
Alton C. Chandler. It was in operation about 
four years when Cobb retired from the part- 
nership to establish the firm of Cobb & Drew in 
Plymouth. The buildings were removed about 
1860. 

In 1841 David Pratt established a foundry on 
Wenham road near the swamp southerly from the 
present residence of Eben S. Lucas. It was 
operated by horse power but a few years. The 
buildings were moved to Wenham brook in 1868 
by Pratt brothers and burned the following year. 



FURNACES AND FOUNDRIES 215 

The enterprise started here was the inception of- 
the Walker & Pratt foundry of Watertown. 

About 1825 for a short term Joseph and Nelson 
Barrows operated a small plant between the Union 
church and the Barrows homestead. A unique 
feature of this plant was its method of obtaining 
the power which consisted of the swinging of a 
huge log. The log was operated by a muscular 
negro and this form of furnishing power was one 
of the earliest impressions of Lewis Pratt who 
witnessed the manoeuvre while passing the plant 
when a very young boy. 

For a few years during the decade beginning 
with the year 1800 a furnace was in operation on 
Fresh Meadow dam near the site of the N. S. 
Cushing mill. Little is known of the plant or of 
the nature of its output except that John Bent, 
Joseph and Nelson Barrows were interested in the 
business and worked there. 

In 1850 Silas Bumpus conducted a furnace with 
horse power near his residence in South Carver. 
Caboose stoves, grates, funnels, etc., were made 
for the Charlotte furnace company. This plant 
was in operation but a few years. 



THE CEANBEERY INDUSTRY 

The swamps which had furnished the residents 
of this region with pasturage and hay during their 
first century, with bog ore for the operation of 
their furnaces during the second century, proved 
to be ideal ground for the cultivation of cranber- 
ries and thus formed the basis of the industrial 
life for the century following the decline of the 
iron trade. 

While the records show that cranberries were 
used as an article of food in earliest Colonial days 
the fruit did not become a staple article of com- 
merce until late in the 19th century and even that 
period was well beyond its prime when a methodi- 
cal attempt at cultivation was made. Through 
the earlier years the berries were regarded as 
common property, but after their place in com- 
merce was established marsh owners looked more 
carefully after their property and gleaning gradu- 
ally disappeared. Flooding for winter protec- 
tion and the annual mowing of grass constituted 
the only encouragement of the old school of 
growers* and in the industrial development fol- 
lowing the close of the Civil war the farmers first 
began the cultivation as it is now practiced. 

*Benjamin D. Finney, who built a dyke for flooding a marsh in 
1856, is claimed to have been the first to encourage the growth of 
cranberries by artificial means. 

217 



218 HISTORY OF CARVER 

After marsh owners came into undisputed pos- 
session of tlieir property, cranberry harvesting 
began to develop as an industry. A popular 
method of harvesting was ''by the halves," that is 
the laborer held one half of the day's harvest for 
his labor while the owner took one-half as rental 
of his marsh. Screening and packing were also 
of a primitive order. A windy day was necessary 
for the operation when a sheet was spread upon 
the ground and the screener, with a measure of 
berries held above his head gradually shook them 
out, the wind removing the chaff as they fell upon 
the sheet. The fruit was then packed in discarded 
barrels of varying dimensions. t 

Shipments were consigned to agents in Boston, 
New York and Philadelphia, and these commis- 
sioners acted as distributors until the custom of 
selling for cash came into vogue. The increasing 
demand for the fruit that grew up in the West 
made buying an attractive speculation and the 
operator found a promising field between pro- 
ducers and consumers. Co-operative selling did 
not become an influential factor until the dawn of 
the 20th century. 

From the hygienic standpoint the experiences of 
the harvesters of the earlier days of the industry 
would now be regarded as a hardship that would 
call for an investigating committee. The marshes 



tThe contents of the barrel is now regulated by state laws, while 
a movement is on foot to establish a national standard. The dis- 
position of national legislators to make the contents of the package 
too large has aroused the interest of the growers. 




^ 2 

C ii 

I— i +i 






THE CRANBERRY INDUSTRY 219 

were always damp and in wet seasons they were 
breeding places for rheumatism and kindred com- 
plaints. The older laborers wisely refrained from 
a contact with the water but the boys took no such 
precautions. Long files of shivering barefoot 
boys lined out on the marsh awaiting the signal 
for attack and when the word was given they 
would drop into the icy water with shouts of 
laughter and boyish pranks, and the knees were 
numb with cold before the sun was high enough to 
impart its heat. 

The New Meadows, comprising five hundred 
acres of natural cranberry bog, was the most 
famous of these early marshes. It proved to be 
valuable property as the trade developed and em- 
ployees gathered for the annual harvest from Car- 
ver and surrounding towns. Prominent among 
the growers of the old regime were Sampson 
McFarlin, Luther Atwood, Benjamin D. Finney, 
Joseph and Benjamin W. Eobbins, John Dunham, 
George Shurtleff, Eben and Earl Sherman, P. W. 
Bump, H. A. Lucas, Ephraim Griffith, Nathan 
Eyder, Nathaniel S. and Matthew H. Gushing and 
Atwood Shaw. 

Cultivation as it was later practiced began in 
the decade 1870-80. Among the first to train the 
plants were Thomas Huit McFarlin,* Chas. Dex- 
ter McFarlin, Alfred M. Shaw and George P. 



*Thonias H. McFarlin, whose residence was near the New 
Meadows marsh, was a pioneer in the development of the industry. 
Noticing a large variety he transplanted a few of the vines and 
started cultivation of what proved to be one of the most popular 
varieties, the McFarlins. Mr. McFarlin died in 1880. 



220 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Bowers, the latter being the first to embark in the 
business on a large scale. Charles D. McFarlin* 
expended upwards of one thousand dollars on one 
acre constructing more on experimental than on 
financial grounds. Every root was dug from the 
mud, and ditches were boarded and a spirit level 
used to insure a proper grade. 

In 1878 George P. Bowers who had interested 
capitalists in the possibilities of the trade, began 
active construction on the East Head bogs which 
have proved a model, ideal sand, mud, drainage 
and water, making it one of the most valuable bog 
properties in town. Chief among those interested 
in the operation of the Bowers company was Abel 
D. Makepeace who a year later began work on the 
large swamps around Wankinco which ultimately 
developed the largest single tract bog in the State. 
The success of the East Head and Wankinco com- 
panies gave an impetus to the industry that made 
Carver the banner cranberry producing section 
and up to the year 1900 this one town raised one 
fifth of the total crop of America. 

The status of the town is seen in the following 
statistics : 

Acreage under cultivation in 1890 750 

Aereacre under cultivation in 1912 2461 



*Charles D. McFarlin migrated to California in the gold excite- 
ment period. On his last visit east in 1874, he became interested 
in cranberry culture and constructed the bog as stated in the 
above record. He returned to the Pacific coast in 1876 and em- 
barked in the business of cranberry culture near Coos Bay in 
Oregon, which he continued until his death in 1910. 



THE CRANBERRY INDUSTRY 221 

Assessors valuation of cranberry bogs in 
1900 $335,510.00 

Assessors valuation of cranberry bogs in 

1912 $1,106,600.00 

Total crops of the town as per assessors reports: 

1904 66,278 barrels 

1905 25,407 

1906 62,531 

1907 70,383 

1908 55,336 

1909 85,598 

1910 60,640 

1911 59,545 

1912 66,043 

While the berries were gathered only from the 
natural marshes Fall frosts constituted the princi- 
ple discouragement of the growers. Mud and 
water, the natural environment of the vines, pre- 
cluded the development of the various insects and 
parasites that appeared in such proportions when 
the vines were removed from their natural con- 
ditions in the process of cultivation. 

Marked changes in the methods of harvesting 
and packing have followed the development of the 
industry. The crops were gathered from the 
natural marshes by hand assisted rarely by the 
long handle rake. In the early days of cultivation 
the crops were handpicked and hand screened 
while the chaff was blown out by a fanning mill. 
In the decade 1880-90 the snap machine came into 
use, and in the following decade it was the main 
means of harvesting. At this time the manufac- 



222 HISTORY OF CARVER 

turers of fanning mills began to study the theory 
of bounding boards from which separators that 
would remove the bad berries were evolved. At 
the beginning of the new century scoops began to 
displace the snap machines, while separators were 
improved and with grading attachments to remove 
the small and poor berries, and the cost of picking 
and screening lessened. The practice of grading 
the fruit on lines of variety, size and color came 
in with the co-operative packing and selling com- 
panies.* 

*About 1895 an attempt was made to organize a co-operative 
company through the Cape Cod Cranberry Sales Co., but with little 
success. The New England Cranberry Sales Co. was organized 
in 1907. 




ALBERT T. SlIUTrrLlOFF 

Fiist Civil War Voliinloor I'roin Carver. Lost an Arm at First Bull 

Kuii. Clerk in War Dopartmont at Washington fifteen 

years followinii- the War. 



MILITARY HISTORY 

Under the charter of William and Mary military- 
duty was compulsory. This arose through cus- 
toms then in vogue among European nations, and 
through the necessity from the prevailing state of 
society, and every town had its training green. 
The dangers from attacks from the Indians had 
not disappeared, while the scramble for territory 
between the French and English, rendered prepa- 
rations for defence a perpetual duty. 

This custom accounts for the prevalence of 
military titles. Captains, Lieutenants, Ensigns 
and Sergeants appear very common as prefixes in 
the records of the times, and even followed the 
holders to the grave where they were chiseled on 
the slate headstones. 

There were two companies in the town desig- 
nated as the North Company and the South Com- 
pany. 

The Revolution served to renew this custom 
and after the constitution was adopted, military 
duty came in as a marked factor in civil govern- 
ment. For fifty years after the town of Carver 
was incorporated the old order was continued and 
annually the commanding officer issued his sum- 
mons to his subalterns. Following was the form 
required by law to be served on all non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates : 

223 



224 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

To Sir: 

I warn you to appear at the house of James Ellis, 
Inn Holder in Carver on Friday the eighth inst., at 
one o'clock P. M., equipt as the law directs for military 
duty. 



Those who arose to the highest ranks were as 
follows, with the date of commission : 

Colonels 



Bartlett Murdock 




1823 


Benjamin Ward 


Majors 


1826 


Nehemiah Cobb 




1790 


John Shaw 




1796 


Benjamin Ellis 




1812 


Stillman Shaw 


North Co. 
Captains 


1829 


Nathaniel Shaw 




1762 


Frances Shurtleff 




1781 


Nehemiah Cobb 




178- 


John Sherman 




1790 


Barnabas Cobb 




1796 


Abijah Lucas 




1802 


Joshua Cole 




1806 


Thomas Cobb 




1815 


Levi Vaughan 




1818 


Israel Dunham 




1822 


Charles Cobb 




1827 


Benjamin Ransom 




1829 


Anthony Sherman 




1833 




CAPT. WILLIAM S. McFARLIN 



MILITARY HISTORY 225 



Lieutenants 
Nehemiah Cobb 


,1781 


Isaac S. Lucas 


1790 


Lemuel Cole 


1796 


Joshua Cole 


1802 


Isaiah Tillson 


1806 


Levi Vaughan 


1815 


Benjamin Lucas 


1818 


Israel Dunham 


1821 


John Lucas 


1822 


Benjamin Ransom 


1827 


Asa Barrows 


1829 


Lewis Holmes 


1833 


Ensigns 




Frances Shurtleff 


1762 


Joseph Shaw 


1781 


Barnabas Cobb 


1790 


Abijah Lucas 


1796 


Nathaniel Vaughan 


1802 


Thomas Cobb 


1806 


Benjamin Lucas 


1815 


Israel Dunham 


1818 


John Lucas 


1821 


Asa Barrows 


1827 


Anthony Sherman 


1829 


Thomas Cobb 


1833 


South Co. 




Captains 




Benjamin Ward 


1787 


John Shaw 


1793 


Ichabod Leonard 


J797 


Gideon Shurtleff 


1800 


Elisha Murdock 


1804 


Benjamin Ellis 


1808 



226 HISTORY OF CARVER 



Samuel Shaw 


1812 


Bartlett Murdoek 


1815 


Joseph Shaw 


1818 


Benjamin Ward 


1819 


Lothrop Barrows 


1822 


StiUraan Shaw 


1827 


Stephen Griffith 


1829 


Lieutenants 




Samuel Shaw 


1809 


Luke Perkins 


1812 


Joseph Shaw 


1815 


Benjamin Ward 


1818 


Ira Murdoek 


1819 


Stillman Shaw 


1824 


Stephen Griffith 


1827 


Daniel Shaw 


1829 


Ensigns 




Benjamin Ellis 


1804 


Samuel Shaw 


1808 


Luke Perkins 


1809 


Bartlett Murdoek 


1812 


Benjamin Ward 


1815 


Ira Murdoek 


1818 


William Murdoek 


1819 


Daniel Shaw 


1828 


Oren Atwood 


1829 


Silas Bumpus 


1832 



The system died a natural death when the causes 
that called it into existence once passed, and the 
last of its May trainings and musters were little 
less than farces. While the law remained on the 
statute books, through public sentiment it had be- 
come obsolete, and the captains "warnings" were 



MILITARY HISTORY 227 

considered optional by the recipients. It was at 
one of these last trainings that William S. Mc- 
Farlin* who was destined to play a prominent 
part in the modern militia, was initiated in his 
military career. The annual warning was left at 
the home of Sampson McFarlin who had lost in- 
terest in the company of which he was legally a 
member, and young William, then just entered his 
'teens, shouldered the musket and started to obey 
the summons as a substitute. Wlien the name of 
Sampson McFarlin was called during the roll call, 
the boy fairly staggering under the weight of his 
gun, stepped forward and shouted ''here." The 
shout of laughter that went up from the assembled 
militiamen, made an impression on the boy's 
memory that never left it. Thus the old military 
system passed. 

A movement for a company under the modem 
system was made by Thomas B. Griffith in 1852 
in consequence of which, Co. K, 3d Regiment, was 
organized, and which voted to take the name of 
''Bay State Light Infantry." The armory of the 
company was in the South Meeting House, which 
at that time was remodeled and equipped for the 
purpose. The first officers elected by the com- 
pany were as follows : 

Capt. Matthias Ellis 
Lieut. Seneca R. Thomas 

" William S. McFarlin 

" Benjamin Ward 

" Joseph W. Sherman 

* Solomon F. McFarlin, son of John, also reported as a substitute 
for his father. 



228 



HISTORY OF CAEVER 



Non-commissioned officers : 

Sergeant Solomon F. McFarlin 
John F. Shaw 
" Ansel Ward 
' ' Philander W. Bump 
Corporal Alvin C. Harlow 
Ira B. Shaw 
*' Augustus F. Tillson 
" Thomas W. Wriglitiugton 



Privates 



Robert W. Andrews 
Samuel S. Atwood 
Joseph Atwood 
Simeon H. Barrows 
Pelham W. Barrows 
Charles H. Bennett 
David M. Bates 
J. Henry Bump 
George Cobb 
]\Iarcus E. Cobb 
Marstin F. Cobb 
Erastus W. Cobb 
John S. Cartee 
Nathaniel S. Cushing 
Charles H. Cole 
Thomas C. Cole 
Charles H. Chase 
Joseph S. Chandler 
Ebenezer Dunham 
Elisha M. Dunham 
Henry A. Dunham 
Charles W. Griffith 
Andrew Griffith 
Rufus Hathaway 



Ephraim T. Harlow 
John B. Hatch 
Wilson McFarlin 
Elisha Murdock 
John Murdock 
Abisha S. Perry 
Enoch Pratt 
Jolin M. Maxim 
Josiali Robbins 
John Shaw, 3d 
Bartlett Shaw 
Gilbert Shaw 
Cephas Shaw, Jr. 
Oliver Shaw, 2nd 
Abiel Shurtleff 
Joseph F. Shurtleff 
Perez T. Shurtleff 
William F. Shurtleff 
Andrew G. Shurtleff 
Levi Shurtleff, Jr. 
Marcus M. Tillson 
Hiram 0. Tillson 
Hiram Tillson 
Alvin S. Perkins 



MILITARY HISTORY 229 

Thompson P. Thomas James Waterman 

Andrew S. Tibbetts Isaac C. Vaughan 

Adoniram "W. Vail John Witham 

Two years later, Capt. Ellis, having been pro- 
moted to the rank of Lieut.-CoL, Lieut. Seneca E. 
Thomas was elected Captain and Second Lient. 
William S. McFarlin advanced to the rank of 1st 
Lieut. Iq 1858, Capt. Thomas resigned and Lieut. 
McFarlin was chosen Captain. The new captain 
was a military enthusiast and excellent drill mas- 
ter, and he brought his command to such a degree 
of proficiency, that it was reputed the best drilled 
company in the regiment. In 1860, George F. 
Cobb had been elected 1st Lieut. ; Thomas B. Grif- 
fith 2nd Lieut. ; and John Dunham, 3d Lieut. 

The third regiment being one of those selected 
from which to make up the State's quota of the 
first call of Pres. Lincoln, Capt. McFarlin and a 
few of his command went down as ''Minute men 
of '61." Thomas B. Griffith started with the de- 
tachment, but was ordered back as recruiting 
officer to fill the depleted regiment. 

The Civil war ended the career of the company 
as an organization, and it was depleted to fill the 
various calls for volunteers. In 1868, a company 
was organized which elected Thomas B. Griffith as 
captain, but it held but a brief sway, for Captain 
Griffith was promoted to major and the members 
of his company who desired to remain in the 
militia were merged in other companies. Since 
that time young men of the town who have desired 
a place in the militia, have been connected with 
the Standish Guards of Plymouth. 



CARVER IN THE REBELLION 

United in spirit, but differing as to methods, 
the town entered enthusiastically into the struggle 
for the preservation of the Union. From the 
stormy days of '61 to the fateful April 19th of '65, 
there was no cessation of labors. In Bay State 
hall and in town hall beneath, public meetings 
were continually fanning the spirit of patriotism 
and made it possible to say, when the battles were 
over, that the town in the woods had done her 
share. 

Many special town meetings were called to con- 
sider war problems. In May, 1861, it was voted to 
add enough to the pay of volunteers in addition 
to the allowance of the State and national govern- 
ments, to make it twenty-six dollars per month. 
In July, 1862, the town committed itself to the 
policy of paying bounties. Strong opposition to 
this system was encountered from those who 
doubted its wisdom. At the same time, it was 
voted to constitute the first to enlist as the recruit- 
ing officer and to give the first five an additional 
five dollars. 

In December following, it was voted to recall 
all offers of bounties for nine months men and a 
pledge of one hundred dollars for each enlistment 
necessary to fill the town's quota substituted. 
This amount was raised in 1864 to one hundred 
and twenty-five dollars and made to cover all calls 

231 



232 HISTORY OF CARVER 

or anticipated calls. In December, 1864, an offer 
of fifteen dollars for a raw recruit and twenty-five 
dollars for a veteran, was offered to anyone who 
would produce those volunteers before the fifth 
of the ensuing January. 

Of the volunteers from this town, nine died on 
battle fields and twelve in hospitals, making a toll 
of twenty-one lives sacrificed in the conflict. Five 
of these viz. : Bartlett Shaw, John S. Eobbins, Wil- 
son McFarlin, Joseph F. Stringer and Allen S. 
Atwood, lost their lives through the second battle 
of Bull Eun. 

CARVEE VOLUNTEEES 

Under the ante-rebellion. State militia Co. K, 
3d Eegiment, was known as the Carver company, 
William S. McFarlin, captain. When Pres. Lin- 
coln's first call reached him, Capt. McFarlin 
gathered as many of his soldiers as possible in the 
time given and started for the front. Those who 
answered this summons and who are now 
designated as ' ' The Minute Men of '61 ' ' were : 

Capt. William S. McFarlin 

1st Lieut. John Dunham 

2d Sergeant Hiram 0. Tillson 

3d Sergeant Robert P. Morse 

3d Sergeant (rank) Henry White 
Hiram B, Tillson James H. Stringer 

Isaac B. Vail George E. Bates 

Josiah W. Coggeshall Joseph F, Bent 

John M. Cobb John D. Sanborn 

George H. Shaw Jonathan W. Shaw 

Linas A. Shaw Joseph F. Stringer 




MA J. THOMAS B. GRIFFITH 



CAEVER IN THE REBELLION 233 

The company was mustered into service, April 23 
and May 6, 1861, and sent to Fortress Monroe and 
Hampton, Va. IMustered out of service at Long Island, 
Boston Harbor, July 22, 1861. 

Co. D. 1st Reg. B. I. M. 

Albert T. Shurtleff 

Enlisted April 17, 1861. Mustered out of service 

November 30. Wounded at jfirst battle of Bull Run 

and taken prisoner. Right arm amputated July 24. 

Confined in Libby prison and released October 7, 1861. 

Co. B, 1st Battalion Maine Volunteers 
Ezra F. Pearson 
Enlisted at Augusta, Me., March 25, 1865. Mustered 
out of service April 5, 1866. 

Co. D. 44th Beg. M. V. M. 
William E. Savery 
Mustered into service Sept. 12, 1862; mustered out 
of service at Readville, June 18, 1863. 

Co. B. 3d Beg. M. V. M. 
Mustered into service Sept. 26, 1862. Mustered out 
of service at Lakeville, June 26, 1863. 
Capt. Thomas B. Griffith 
2d Sergeant Charles W. Griffith 
Corporal George H. Shaw 
Corporal Andrew D, Merritt 
Corporal John M. Cobb 

Jonathan W, Shaw. Mustered out June 2, 1863. 

John Murdock, musician. 

Alonzo D. Shaw. Died at Stanly hospital, Newberne, 
N. C, April 18, 1863. 

James H. Bates, musician. Mustered out at Boston, 
1863. 

William H. O'Connell. Discharged May 9, 1863, on 
account of disability, and died Sept. 30. 



234 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Stephen T. Atwood Joseph F. Cobb 

Ebenezer E. Atwood Nathaniel B. A. Bates 

Josiah W. Atwood Joseph G. Washburn 

Jesse M. Shaw Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. 

Charles H. Chase George W. Tillson 

Ansel B. Ward Ellis D. Dunham 

Sidney 0. Cobb Henry A. Dunham 

John B. Chandler Lorenzo N.Shaw (wagoner) 

William B. Chandler Edward W. Shaw 

William Irwdn John A. Stringer 

This company was in engagements at Winston, Golds- 
boro and Whitehall, North Carolina. 

Co. C. 18th Beg. M. V. M. 

Mustered into service between Nov. 2 and Dec. 16, 

1861, for three years. 

Capt. William S. McFarlin. Resigned on account of dis- 
ability Oct. 19, 1862. 

1st Sergeant Bartlett Shaw. Killed at Bull Run Aug. 
30, 1862, before receiving commission as 1st Lieut. 

2nd Sergeant Linas A. Shaw. Wounded at Bull Run 
Aug. 30, 1862. Discharged for disability Aug. 1863. 

3d Sergeant Henry Wliite. Mustered out Sept. 2, 1864. 

3d Sergeant Pelham W. Barrows. Discharged for dis- 
ability at Harrison's Landing, July, 1862. 

4th Sergeant Albert W. Perkins. Discharged for dis- 
ability, January, 1863. 

Corporal James H. Stringer. Died at Camp Winfield 
Scott before Yorktown, April 29, 1862. 

Corporal Eli Atwood, Jr. Died Dec. 14, 1862, from 
wounds received at battle of Fredericksburg. 

Corporal Wilson McFarlin. Supposed to have been 
killed at Bull Run Aug. 30, 1862. 

Corporal Levi Shurtleff, Jr. Died at Governors Island, 
N. Y., Oct. 7, 1862. 




THE 80LDIEKS MONUMENT 



CARVER IN THE REBELLION 235 

Isaac B. Vail. Discharged for disability Jan. 3, 1863. 
Josiah "W. Coggeshall. 

Joseph F. Stringer. Killed at BuU Run, Aug. 29, 1862. 
Marshall A. "Washburn. Discharged for disability, Sept. 

1862, at Fortress Monroe, Va. 

Elbridge A. Shaw. Died at Gaines Mill, Va., June 14, 

1862. 
Peleg B. Washburn. Discharged from service on account 

of disability. 
Thomas S. Dunham. Discharged for disability Oct. 10, 

1863. 
John B. McFarlin. Discharged for disability April 3, 

1863. 
John M. Maxim. Promoted to Corporal. Wounded at 

Bull Run Aug. 30, 1862. Taken prisoner and 

paroled. Discharged for disability April 8, 1863. 
Daniel B. Dunham. Lost left arm at Petersburg, July 

15, 1864. Discharged Oct. 20, 1864. 

Micah G. Shurtleff. Promoted to Sergeant July 1, 
1863 ; to Orderly Sergeant Sept. 1. Wounded at 
Bull Run Aug. 30, 1862 ; and at Fredericksburg Dec. 
13. Mustered out at Boston Nov. 25, 1864. 

James F. Shurtleff. In battles with his brother, Micah 
G., and mustered out with him at Boston Nov. 25, 
1864. 

Charles F. Pratt. Musician, Regimental band. Re- 
enlisted for three years Feb. 1864. 

Henry F. Shurtleff. 

Isaac Shaw, 2nd. Discharged from the service, April 8, 

1863, at Annapolis, Md. 

Benjamin W. Dunham. Died at Convalescent Camp, 

Alexandria, Va., Oct. 26, 1862. 
Isaiah F. Atwood. Transferred to Invalid Corps March 

16, 1864. Discharged from service Sept. 17, 1864. 



236 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Allen S. Atwood. Wounded at Bull Run Aug. 30, 1862, 
and died Sept. 7, at Carver hospital at Washing- 
ton, D. C. 

Harvey Finney. Wounded in battle May 10, 1864, and 
died June 26 at Campbell hospital, Washington, 
D. C. 

Samuel B. Barrows. Promoted to Corporal. 

Thomas Atwood. Discharged for disability June 28, 
1862. 

Co. C. 32nd Reg. M. V. M. 

Sergeant Hiram 0. Tillson. Mustered in Nov. 27, 1861 ; 
promoted to Orderly, Nov. 12, 1862; to 2nd Lieut.. 
April 21, 1863. Wounded at Shady Grove church. 
May 30, 1864, and discharged for disability Oct. 
26, 1864. 

3d Corporal Lucian T. Hammond. Died at Harrison's 
Landing, Va., July 30, 1862. 

Co. E. 20th Reg. M. V. M. 

Lucius E. Griffith. Mustered in Aug. 8, 1861. Died at 
Mt. Pleasant hospital, Washington, D. C, Nov. 6, 
1862. 

Joseph F. Bent. Mustered in Sept. 10, 1862. Wounded 
at Balls Bluff Oct. 21, 1861; and at Charles City 
Cross Roads, Va., June 30, 1862; taken prisoner to 
Richmond and paroled after thirty days and ex- 
changed. Discharged for disability Aug. 29, 1863. 

Co. G. 38th Reg. M. V. M. 
Mustered in Aug. 20, 1862. 

Sergeant Josiah E. Atwood. Died at Brashear City, La., 

July 11, 1863. 
William W. Pearson, Musician. Discharged Feb. 1, 

1864, from disability resulting from accident on the 

steamer Morning Light. 
George E. Bates. Died at Baton Rouge, La., May 21, 

1863. 



CARVER IN THE REBELLION 237 

George H. Pratt. Wounded Oct. 19, 1864, and died the 

following day at Winchester, Va. 
Levi C. Vaughan. Discharged for disability April 16, 

1864. 
Perez T. Shurtleff. Discharged for disability, April 

16, 1864. 
James McSheary. Died at Fortress Monroe, Jan. 13, 1863. 
John B. Hatch. Discharged for disability, May 27, 1863. 
Jesse F. Lucas. 
Job C. Chandler. 

John Breach. Died at New Orleans, May 11, 1863. 
Benjamin H. Savery. Discharged for disability. May 

14, 1863. 
Levi Ransom, Jr. 

Co. E. 23d Beg. M. V. M. 

Edward S. Carnes. Mustered in Dec. 4, 1861. Re-enlisted 
Dec. 2, 1863. Wounded in skirmish near Cold 
Harbor, June 9, 1864. 

John D. Sanborn. 

Benjamin F. Fuller. Mustered in Sept. 28, 1861; mus- 
tered out Oct. 13, 1864. 

Co. G. 45th Beg. M. V. M. 
Jonathan W. Shaw. Mustered in Sept. 27, 1862; mus- 
tered out June 2, 1863. 

Co. E. 32nd Beg. M. V. M. 
WiUiam H. Barrows. Mustered in Feb. 20, 1862. Killed 
at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 

Co. E. 18th Beg. M. V. M. 
Mustered in Aug. 23, 1861. 

John S. Robbins. Killed at Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862. 
Joseph S. Robbins. Wounded at Bull Run, Aug. 30, 
1862, and discharged for disability, April 9, 1863. 
Austin Ward. Discharged for disability Nov. 12, 1862. 



238 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Co. B. 7th Beg. M. V. M. 
Frederick Atwood. Mustered in Feb. 17, 1862, and dis- 
charged for disability Feb. 6, 1863. 

Co. E. 29th Reg. M. V. M. 
Charles Atwood. Mustered in May 22, 1861. 
William R. Middleton. Mustered in May 22, 186L Dis- 
charged for disability Aug. 8, 1862. 

Co. F. 38th Beg. M. Y. M. 
Henry T. Ward. 

Co. C. nth Beg. M. V. M. 
John Kilroy. Mustered in Aug. 12, 1863 ; mustered out 
July 4, 1865. 

Co. E. TJ. 8. 1st Light Artillery 
Hosea B. Morse. Mustered in Aug. 27, 1861. In 14 
general engagements and 27 Cavalry fights. 
Wounded at Gettysburg. Mustered out at Fort 
Strong, Washington, D. C, Aug. 27, 1864. 

Co. C. 1st Mass. Cavalry 
Nathan Maxim. Mustered in Aug. 19, 1862. Taken pris- 
oner at Aldie, Va., June 17, 1863 ; paroled July 23d; 
exchanged Sept. 1st. Mustered out with the regi- 
ment Oct. 3, 1864. 

12th Battery 
Robert B. Pearson. Mustered in Dec. 11, 1862 ; promoted 
to Sergeant. 

Co. M. 4th Cavalry 
Ansel B. Maxim. Mustered in March 1, 1864. 

Co. B. 4th Mass. Cavalry 
Edson C. Blake. Mustered in Dec. 23, 1863. 

Co. I. 2nd Heavy Artillery 
Manoah Hurd. Mustered in Jan. 1, 1864. 




THOMAS SULTllWUJrnj 



CARVER IN THE REBELLION 239 

Co. G. 4th 3Iass. Cavalry 
Lucian B. Corban. Mustered in Feb. 21, 1864. 

Co. G. 2nd Mass. Cavalry 
Andrew A. Fuller. 

4th Cavalry 
Henry A. Hunting. Mustered in Sept. 17, 1864. 
George Shurtleff. 

2nd Mass. Heavy Artillery 
Samuel Langley. Mustered in Sept. 20, 1864. 
John Rardon. Mustered in Sept. 20, 1864. 

3d U. S. Artillery 
Edward Miller. Mustered in Sept. 17, 1864. 

3d U. S. Infantry 
Nelson Trudo. Mustered in Sept. 21, 1864. 

nth Mass. Infantry 
John Caples. Mustered in Sept. 17, 1864. 

Veterans Reserve Corps 
Thomas McMahon. Mustered in Sept. 17, 1864. 
Samuel Ham, Jr. Mustered in Sept. 17, 1864. 
George F. Tarbox. Mustered in Sept. 21, 1864. 

27id Mass. Infantry 
Mustered in April 28 and 29, 1864. 
Thomas MeCabe Thomas Haverty 

William Wade John Kelley 

2nd Mass. Cavalry 
Mustered in April 28, 1864. 
Thomas Lalor John Ray 

Philip Anderson Thomas SuUivan 



240 HISTORY OF CARVER 

In the Navy 
On the Matthew Vassar, Sophronia and Eureka. 
Stillman W. Ward. Ordinary seaman ; mustered in Dee. 
6, 1861 ; promoted to Masters mate, Dee. 1862 ; later 
promoted to Signal officer. In engagements at Fort 
Jackson, La., and at Yieksburg. 

On the Matthew Vassar 
Atwood R. Drew. Ordinary seaman. Entered service 
Dec. 6, 1861. Discharged for disability Nov. 10, 1862. 

On the Racer, Columbia, Iron Age, and Montgomery. 
Everett T. Manter. Sailor entered service as Masters 
mate Dec. 15, 1861; promoted to Ensign Dec. 14, 
1862; in engagements on the Mississippi reducing 
Forts Jackson and Phillips and at Vicksburg. Taken 
prisoner Jan. 17, 1863, near Wilmington, N. C. In 
Libby prison five weeks. 

On the Mystic 
Levi Cobb. 

On the King Fisher 
Charles H. Holmes. 

On the Saco 
Adam Nicol, Jr. 
Samuel Parker. Carpenter's mate. 

On the Midnight. 
Edwin 0. Drew, Acting Ensign. 
Samuel B. Runnels. 
Philander J. Holmes. 
Frances Y. Casey. 
Joseph Y. Casey. 



WAE OF 1812-14. POST OFFICES. SMALL 
POX. CEMETEEIES. POPULATION 

Although an inland town, Carver felt the in- 
fluences of the second war with Great Britain, not 
only in the impetus given her industries, but in 
the conflicting political sentiments of the people. 
As a result of the division in sentiment, a special 
town meeting was called in 1812 as per the follow- 
ing petition signed by Thomas Hammond and 
others : 

''Carver, Aug. 6, 1812. 

To the Selectmen of Carver : 

Gentlemen : 

We, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of Carver, 
Pray you to Call a Town Meeting as soon as May 
be for the purpose of choosing some person of 
good and Eegularity Character as a Committee of 
Safety in this time of Commotion and Political 
Division, and to adopt any other measures sd. 
town shall then think proper for the safety and 
well being of sd. town." 

A world of insinuation can be read in this peti- 
tion and we can see between the lines a glimpse 
of the issues of the day, but the majority did not 
share the consternation of these Federalists, and 

241 



242 HISTORY OF CARVER 

the committee was refused. On the contrary the 
town, against the prevailing sentiment of New 
England, supported the nationalist administration 
and voted an appropriation to bring the pay of 
the soldiers detached for actual service up to four- 
teen dollars per month, provided the State or 
national government refused to do it. This was 
later made to cover the services of those who were 
sent to Duxbury. 

The furnaces of the town were in operation 
night and day, fulfilling contracts for shot and 
shell and this was resented by the ultra ante-war 
sentiment. Threats to burn the buildings of these 
plants were in circulation, and one plant situated 
in the woods, kept a night watch on duty as a safe- 
guard against incendiarism. 

Excitement reached its highest pitch, when the 
British took temporary possession of Wareham. 
Rumors of an invasion spread and Capt. Gideon 
Shurtleff who, as a boy had seen service in the 
Revolution, took his sword and riding through 
town on horseback, strove to arouse the patriotism 
of the people. Col. Bartlett Murdock was an eye 
witness of tlie British manoeuvres in the neighbor- 
ing town and on his way home at night, he stopped 
along the road to advise the farmers of their dan- 
ger, but as the Colonel was well known as a prac- 
tical joker he did not succeed in arousing the fears 
of the people. Several from the Carver militia 
shouldered their muskets and marched to assist in 
driving the enemy from the neighboring town, and 
one was worked to such a state of excitement, that 
he advocated firing on the ships as they made out 



POST OFFICES 243 

of the harbor. When advised that the British had 
hostages for their protection he retorted : ' ' The 
hostages no need to have been taken. ' ' The march 
of the militia from Plymouth np the Federal road 
to Wareham excited the imaginations of the people 
and doubtless created visions of carnage not 
justified by the circumstances. 

POST OFFICES 

The Carver post office was established in the 
first decade of the 19th century. Mail was de- 
livered from the offices of PljTQouth and Middle- 
boro. John Shaw was the first postmaster and 
his successors have been James Ellis, Eliab Ward, 
Daniel Shaw, E. Watson Shaw, James A. Vaughan 
and Frank E. Barrows. 

The North Carver office was established about 
1835, with Eev. Plummer Chase as postmaster. 
He has been succeeded by William Barrows, Alvin 
C. Harlow, Benjamin Ransom, Jr., Rufus L. Brett, 
James C. Whitehead and Stewart H. Pink. 

The South Carver office was established about 
1850, with mails delivered from Wareham by 
teamsters. The postmasters have been Amos 
Adams, Matthias Ellis, Augustus F. Tillson, Peleg 
McFarlin and Thomas M. Southworth. 

In the decade 1870-80, mail for residents of 
Wenham was left at the house of Albert Shurtleff , 
but the regular postoffice at East Carver was not 
established until ten years later with Ephraim 
Bobbins as postmaster. His successors have been 
Alerton L. Shurtleff and George E. White. 



244 HISTORY OF CARVER 

SMALL POX 

The appearance of small pox in 1777, created 
consternation in the towns of Plympton and Mid- 
dleboro. The infected region was in what is now 
North Carver and East Middleboro and raged on 
both sides of the town line.* 

The problem of confining the plague was taken 
up in a special town meeting, but municipal action 
appears to have been mainly in the negative. It 
was voted ''that Jonathan Parker's family and 
Caleb Loring should not have the small pox in 
Jonathan Parker's house," and further, "that 
they should not be removed to "Widow Ann Cush- 
man's nor to the Widow Eepentence Chandler's 
to have the small pox. ' ' But the malady, unmind- 
ful of town ordinances, continued to rage. 

A movement was made to build a pest house on 
the Cranebrook, then at a safe distance from the 
settlements, but nothing came of it, and in lieu of 
it a committee was appointed to take the afflicted 
ones out of town. Failing in this delicate duty, 
the Selectmen were instructed to provide a place 
where the sick could be cared for. 



* There were eight deaths in Middleboro, including Eev. Sylvester 
Conant of the First (Putnams) church, Zachariah Eddy, William 
Soule, Sarah Eeading, Hannah Love, Widow Ehoda Smith, Joseph 
Smith and Bethiah Smith. These were buried in a field between 
Mahutchett and Eocky Meadow, which has since grown up. The 
late Otis Bent cared for the lot with fidelity, planting eight pines 
around it. After his death the pines were cut by lumbermen and 
nothing remains to mark the spot except an unmarked slab and 
one foot stone. 



CEMETERIES 245 

Dr. Jonah Whitcomb appears as the storm 
centre of popular clamor. As a practicing 
physician he may have desired to study the disease 
for the benefit of his profession, but whatever his 
motive may have been, he viewed the situation 
calmly and whether justified or not the town voted 
to prosecute him for inoculating Jonathan 
Parker 's family. The suit was dropped, however, 
and the only rein on the doctor's activities was a 
town vote forbidding him the privilege of speak- 
ing in the town until the disease should abate. 
The disease in a mild form appeared in East Car- 
ver in 1873. 

CEMETERIES 

Carver cemeteries were of the conventional or- 
der. The older markers were of slate and the in- 
scriptions were solemn warnings to those who 
lived to read them. The following quotations 
illustrate the system in vogue in the 18th and in 
the first half of the 19th century of makings the 
dead speak to the living through the slab that 
stood above their resting place : 

"Reader stand still and spend a tear, 
Think on the dust that slumbers here, 
And as you read the state of me 
Think on the glass that runs for thee." 

"The dear delights we here enjoy 
And fondly call our own 
Are but short favors borrowed now 
To be returned anon." 



246 HISTORY OF CARVER 

"My time is spent, 
My days are passed, 
Eternity must count the rest. 
My glass is out 
My race is run 
The holy will of God is done." 

''Reader, the time's at hand 
"When you and all 
Into the dust 
"With me must fall." 

"Hither my friends just turn aside 
And read and see how young I died, 
And as you read consider well 
How soon you'll die there's none can tell." 

"Here rests his head upon a lap of earth 
A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown, 
Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth 
And Melancholy marked him for her own." 

"All you who stop my tomb to see 
As I am now so you must be, 
Repent, repent, while you have time 
For I was taken in my prime." 

Burials were made without reference to any 
plan, which is a handicap in the efforts to bring 
the plots under the modern order. Perhaps it i& 
best that the resting places of the dead should 
stand as a monument to the simple ways of those 
whose pilgrimage ended there, for in the modern 
lot where the square plots are marked with white 
marble and polished granite, the most attractive 



CEMETERIES 247 

spot is the old corner dotted helter skelter with 
reclining slate stones. 

The Union cemetery is fortunate in the posses- 
sion of the Jesse Murdock and Fanny Murdock en- 
dowments for general repairs, which with the 
many endowments for private lots insures the per- 
petual care and improvement of the ground and 
with the many costly monuments this cemetery 
has earned the name of: ''The Mount Auburn of 
Plymouth County." 

Lakenham cemetery, the oldest, most unique 
and from the historical standpoint the most in- 
teresting was endowed in 1912 by Mrs. Eosa A. 
Cole. Up to that year with few endowments for 
private lots the cemetery was neglected, and many 
of the inscriptions on the older stones had be- 
come indecipherable. The Wenham and Carver 
cemeteries have each a few endowments for 
private lots but none for general improvements. 

dishing 's Field Cemetery 
A small cemetery was located on a knoll near 
the N. S. Cushing residence. Many of the Ben- 
sons were buried on this plot, but the "burial 
ground ' ' was discontinued before the present gen- 
eration came upon the scene and with one excep- 
tion the markers had been removed by boys. 

Lakenham Cemetery 
The land for Lakenham cemetery was given 
from the Shaw estate. Burials were made before 
the incorporation of the South Precinct and the 



248 HISTORY OF CARVER 

location of the burial ground settled the location 
of the first meeting house. The oldest inscription 
is that of a daughter of Benoni Shaw (Eebecca?) 
which reads as follows: 

Here lyes a child 

of Benony Shaws 

Dyed April ye 4th 

in ye year 1718 

in ye 8th year of her age. 

In 1736 Benoni Shaw, George Barrows and 
Jonathan Shaw were named by the Precinct as a 
committee 'Ho clear and subdue their burial 
place. ' ' In 1741-42 a committee was chosen by the 
Precinct to see that each lot owner clear his own 
lot, and more than a century passed before the 
ground was cleared as we know it. Up to 1908 
when the town voted to elect cemetery commis- 
sioners the plot was left to the care of individual 
efforts. 

WenJiam Cemetery 
The land for Wenham cemetery was given by 
the Eansoms and Hammonds. Burials were made 
before the Eevolution. There is no organization 
in connection with the ground, the Hammonds and 
Finneys caring for it until the town assumed con- 
trol. 

Carver Cemetery 
The land for the Carver cemetery was given by 
the Shurtleffs from their large estate adjoining. 
In 1885 ''The Central Cemetery Association of 



CEMETERIES 249 

Carver ' ' was organized with the following officers : 
Thomas Vaughan, President ; James A. Vaughan, 
Secretary; H. A. Lucas, Treasurer; and T. T. 
Vaughan, Perez T. Shurtleff, and Albert T. Shurt- 
leff, Executive Committee; Mrs. P. J. Barrows, 
Mrs. P. J. Holmes and Mrs. A. T. Shurtleff, 
soliciting committee. 



Union Cemetery 
The land for Union Cemetery was given from 
the Barrows estate. The oldest inscriptions are 
for the year 1777 in memory of Nathan who died 
Oct, 22nd and Bethuel who died Nov, 2nd of that 
year, both sons of Jonathan and Lydia Barrows. 
The west addition was made through a gift from 
Maj. Thomas B. Griffith, and the ground was 
cared for during the last half of the last century 
by William Savery in an individual capacity. In 
1906 the cemetery was incorporated as **The 
Union Cemetery of South Carver" with the fol- 
lowing incorporators : Alfred M. Shaw, S. Dex- 
ter Atwood, Henry S. Griffith, Josiah W. Atwood, 
N. G. Swift, John Bent, Gustavus Atwood, Mar- 
cus Atwood, John F, Shaw and Mrs. Eldoretta 
McFarlin. 

In 1908 the town voted to elect Cemetery Com- 
missioners and since that year the unincorporated 
cemeteries have been cared for by the commission- 
ers. The following have served in that capacity : 
Josiah W, Atwood, George E, Blair, George P. 
Lincoln, Eugene E. Shaw and Fred A. Ward. 



250 HISTORY OF CARVER 

The population of Carver according to the Na- 
tional census of 1790 was less than one thousand. 
It has varied but slightly as per the following, up 
to and including the year 1860 according to na- 
tional census, and since 1860 the state census : 



1790 


847 


1850 


1186 


1800 


863 


1860 


1186 


1810 


858 


1875 


1127 


1820 


839 


1885 


1091 


1830 


970 


1895 


1016 


1840 


995 


1905 


1410 



In the figures for 1895 were 1008 whites and 8 
blacks. In 1905 the proportions were changed to 
1231 whites and 179 blacks. 



MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES 

Agriculture has been carried on in a general 
way from the days of the first settlers and with no 
great specialties until the development of cran- 
berry culture. But beginning with the establish- 
ment of furnaces in 1733 manufacturing in varied 
lines has been the main source of the town's in- 
dustrial activities. 

The lumber trade ranks high in this line. Be- 
ginning with the up and down mills of old, mill 
men have kept pace with the times. The mills 
of longest record are Cole's at North Carver, 
Holmes' at Quitticus, Gushing 's at Fresh Mead- 
ows, Vaughan's at Carver and Cushman's (now 
Shaw and Atwood) at South Carver. Shaw's 
steam mill at Carver is a modern plant. While 
box boards have formed the principal output 
of these mills, long boards, cedar boat boards, 
shingles, staves and heading have been manufac- 
tured at different times at most of the plants. 
Bent's mill at Popes Point and Barnes' mill at 
Swan Hold were busy plants in their day, while 
Eddy 's mill on the site of the Federal furnace and 
White's mill on the Cranebrook later supplanted 
by the Shoestring factory were active centres in 
the days following the Revolution. The latter 
was in operation up to the middle of the last 
century. 

251 



252 HISTORY OF CARVER 

While Holmes, Gushing and Cole did consider- 
able cooperage business in the manufacture of nail 
kegs the trade was not fully developed until the 
output of cranberries created a demand for bar- 
rels since which time barrel making has been an 
important adjunct of the lumber business. 

Making cloth from hemp and flax for home con- 
sumption was a necessity in the early days and ex- 
tended well into the 19th century, when many of 
the older houses held looms among their keep- 
sakes. But this industry disappeared under the 
development of modern mills. 

The shoe trade had become quite a factor when 
the period of centralization set in. In the decade 
1830-40 the annual output was about five thousand 
pairs of boots and shoes and this was increased 
until by 1860 small shops were scattered over the 
town many of the farmers taking it up as a side 
line working in connection with Bridgewater 
plants. In the boom days following the Civil war 
Chandler Brothers established a shoe manufac- 
tory under King Philip's hall where those who 
held to the craft found employment. The business 
disappeared from town finally in the decade 1880- 

90. , 

Sheep Raising 

Sheep raising was an important factor in the 
early agriculture of the town, but this industry 
had nearly disappeared before the end of the 19th 
century when James A. Vaughan who held a dozen 
was the only sheep raiser in Carver. 

The practice of letting the sheep run at large on 
the common lands was long continued after such 



MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES 253 

lands had been divided. As this tract was not cul- 
tivated except in spots it was used in common well 
down to the 20th century, and private sheep marks 
were recorded with the town clerk by which the 
separate owners could reclaim their own at the end 
of the grazing season. When the custom was dis- 
continued there were seventy-eight brands on re- 
cord a few of which I give as specimens. 

Consider Donham. A square crop off each ear 
and two slits in the end of each ear and a hole 
through the left ear. 

Nathaniel Atwood. A square crop off the right 
ear and a slit in the end of the left ear. 

James Savery. A swallows tail in the end of the 
right ear and a hapeney the under side of the left. 

Sheep were turned loose in the woods after the 
May shearing and when the season had advanced 
to a point where they could not live in the open 
they must be corraled and returned to the fold. 
This was sport for the boys who loved excitement 
and a severe test on their endurance. In the na- 
ture of sheep when their domain is invaded the 
first tendency is to scatter and each one will dart 
in a different direction. It required long runs 
over the hills and valleys, and no little patience 
and perseverance on the part of the boys to head 
them off but after the rattled Nannies had once 
been corraled in a herd they would hang together 
and no amount of driving could induce them to 
separate again. Thus after the exciting chase had 
ended driving them to the fold in a compact mass, 
and picking out the separate marks, was an easy 
proposition for the boys. 



254 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Another custom which grew up with sheep rais- 
ing never received the sanction of law. Hunters 
in the woods for rabbits, foxes, or deer, frequently 
shot and dressed a fat lamb, and mutton was no 
luxury while sheep ran at large. The silly animals 
were an easy mark for dogs and great damage 
was inflicted on the herds by lawless canines. One 
farmer who was accused of shooting dogs that 
worried his sheep lost a large percentage of his 
herd one season and the field where the massacre 
took place is still known as Mutton Island. 

In the popular fancy none of the varied indus- 
trial springs of the town holds a firmer place than 
the ' ' shoestring ' ' factory, that thrived for a genera- 
tion. In 1852 William F. Jenkins a young man 
from Utica, N. Y., associated with George P. Bow- 
ers and Inman, an inventor, in a firm 

styled Wm. F. Jenkins & Co. for the manufac- 
ture of cotton goods. The works were estab- 
lished on the Cranebrook on the water privi- 
lege of White's mills and through the enterprise 
of Mr. Bowers. Mr. Jenkins died in 1854 and a 
brother S. Freedom Jenkins became manager of 
the business. Sometime later it assumed the name 
of the Jenkins Manufacturing Co. or the Jenkins 
Braid Mill, but from the nature of its products its 
name of the Shoestring Factory could not be 
eradicated from the popular mind. 

In the first years of the operation of the firm 
1800 spindles were in motion, 50,000 pounds of cot- 
ton were consumed annually and 150,000 gross of 
shoestrings placed upon the market. While shoe- 
strings always took the lead in its manufactures, 



MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES 255 

its products varied with the demands of the times. 
Cord and braid were made extensively, and during 
the years that hoop skirts raged in the world of 
fashion the company did a thriving business 
covering the whalebone and steel that entered into 
the mechanism of the skirts. 

The larger portion of the employees were girls 
who came from south eastern Massachusetts but 
largely Nova Scotia. The boarding house in con- 
nection with the plant was a mecca for the young 
and many of the girls married and are now promi- 
nent among the older generation of the town. The 
factory building was burned in 1880 in conse- 
quence of which the business was moved to Brain- 
tree, and the boarding house was remodeled for 
use as a cranberry apartment house. 

In 1853 Thomas B. Griffith, Jesse Murdock, 
George W. Bent and Matthias Ellis formed a 
partnership for the manufacture of grates, under 
the firm name of Bent, Griffith & Co. The works 
were established on the brook that runs from Fur- 
nace pond, and a salesroom fitted in Boston. But 
eight employees were engaged during the first 
years of the project and about twenty-five tons 
of grates manufactured annually. 

In the expansion days following the Civil war 
the plant increased its output, and Bent with- 
drawing from the firm its name was changed to 
Murdock & Co. At this time Maj. Griffith 
travelled extensively over Europe gathering 
styles and data from which the firm took front 
rank in its line and as a manufacturer of fancy 
household furnishings it had a national reputa- 



256 HISTORY OF CARVER 

tion. Brass moulding was added to the firm's 
facilities and brass castings by expert workmen 
from Sweden were finished in the most artistic 
manner. In 1877 the business was incorporated 
under the name of the Murdock Parlor Grate Co. 
The buildings of the firm were demolished by fire 
in 1885 when the business was moved to Middle- 
boro. 




HARRISON G. COLE 



CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS 

1698. Rochester road laid out. Sampsons 
pond first mentioned. Jonathan Shaw ordained 
deacon. 

1707. Plympton, seventh town of Plymouth 
County, incorporated. William Shurtleff first 
town clerk. 

1717. Committee of two chosen to procure a 
schoolmaster. 

1730. Moses Seipit appears in town. 

1734-35. George Barrows, Nathaniel Atwood 
and Jabez Eddy elected first South Precinct her- 
ring committee 'Ho take care that there be no 
stoppage in South Meadow river to obstruct or 
hinder the course of the fish either in their going 
up or going down sd. stream. ' ' 

1737. School officers called trustees. 

1738. Elisha Lucas elected Collector because 
incumbent "incapable of serving because of in- 
disposition of body and mind." (David Shurtletf ). 

1740. Road laid out from Edward Washburn's 
and Silvannus Dunham's to the Meeting house. 

1765. Town officers began to "take the oath 
respecting the bills of the neighboring govern- 
ments." 

1768. Laid out road from Barnabas Atwood 's 
to Rochester road. School agents Seth Cushing, 
Isaiah Cushman, Joseph Wright, Dea. Lucas, 

257 



258 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Capt. Shaw, John Shaw, Jr., and Joseph Barrows. 

1773. Samuel Lucas and Caleb Cushman 
named as a committee to join with Wareham in 
a petition to the General Court for an act to pre- 
vent the destruction of fish. 

1775. Dea. Thomas Savery elected Selectman 
of Plympton. 

1779. Nathaniel Harlow elected agent to take 
care of the Tory land and hire it out to the best 
advantage. 

1781. Laid out road from Nathaniel Atwood's 
to Eochester road. Committee elected "to reduce 
paper money to hard money. ' ' Reported in favor 
of a ratio of sixty to one. Great difficulty in j^ro- 
viding horses and beef for the army. 

1783. School agents : Dist. 7, Consider Chase ; 
Dist. 8, Dea. Thomas Savery; Dist. 9, Capt. Wil- 
liam Atwood ; Dist. 10, Lieut. John Shaw ; Dist. 11, 
John Muxam. Committee of Correspondence and 
Safety: Lieut. John Shaw, Isaac Churchill, Seth 
Cushing, Isaiah Cushman, Dea. Thomas Savery. 
Voted not to receive any of the "Refugees which 
had fled to the enemy for protection ' ' and to hire 
out their land for the benefit of the town treasury. 

1790. Carver incorporated. 

1791. Laid out road from Lakenham road to 
Dea. Dunham's. Joseph Vaughan, Isaac Cush- 
man and Abijah Lucas, first Herring Committee. 
Jonathan Tillson authorized to locate the bounds 
of the training field. Laid out road from Middle- 
boro line to Ebenezer Blossom's. 

1792. Laid out road from John Atwood's to 
Rochester road via. Gibbs pond. Atwood rebel- 



CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS 259 

lion. Jokn, Joseph, Samuel, Gannett, Nathaniel, 
Joshua and Lieut. Caleb Atwood refused to pay 
their Precinct taxes and 22 pounds were raised 
for their abatement. 

1794. Committee chosen to survey the town 
and make a map. 

1796. Road changed from East to West side of 
Ephraim Griffith's. 

1799. Town paid a fine of $9.99 for neglecting 
to repair highways. 

1804. Rev. John Howland died. Burial in 
Lakenham cemetery. Headstone inscription: 

Died, the Rev. John Howland, pastor of the 
ehiireh in this town being possessed of great 
patience and resignation he fell asleep in Jesus 
in full expectation of a glorious resurrection. 

Nov. 17, 1804. Aged 84 years and the 59th 
of his ministry. 

"Reader, the time's at hand 
When you and all 
Into the dust 
With me must fall." 

1807. April 10th "four persons were dipped 
at the North end of Plympton by Mr. Ezra Ken- 
dall a Baptist minister from Kingston. Lived 
near Kingston line and were lead into error by 
Kingston Baptists. These were the first Baptists 
of Plympton." Record. 

1809. Bounty of six cents on crow's heads; 
three cents on crow blackbirds ; and one cent each 
on jaybirds and red winged blackbirds. 



260 HISTORY OF CAR\^R 

1811. Bounty increased to twenty-five cents 
on crows, eight cents on crow blackbirds and two 
cents each on jaybirds and red winged blackbirds. 

1812. Laid out road from Joshua Atwood's to 
Asaph Atwood's to end at Clark's Coal house. 

1813. Selectmen instructed to ''call on Eoches- 
ter and see if they can settle respecting the affairs 
of a black woman." 

1815. Voted to recommend that all societies in 
town unite and hire one minister. 

1826. I. and J. C. Pratt petitioned to be set off 
to the town of Wareham. 

1842-44. School Committee reports published 
in Old Colony Memorial. 

1843. Voted to disapprove of any one selling 
ardent spirits around the meeting house on town 
meeting days. 

1851. Barn built on poor farm. 

1852. Benjamin Ellis store built on the hill. 
Old store removed from its lot near the pond and 
fitted as a tenement. First house on Tremont 
street south of store. 

1855. Libraries of fifty-five volumes each pre- 
sented the schools in town by William Savery. 

1855. Seventy acres devoted to cranberry rais- 
ing valued at $1,622.50. 

1856. Tillson Pratt and son appointed liquor 
agents of the town to sell for use "in the arts and 
for mechanical, chemical and medicinal purposes 
and no other." Those who served as agents un- 
der the system were Thomas Hammond, Charles 
W. Griffith, Eobert W. Andrews and Ealph Cope- 
land. 



CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS 261 

1861. Ladies of South Carver thanked by the 
town ''for their offer to make clothing for the 
soldiers and otherwise contributing to their com- 
fort." The ladies specially remembered Lieut. 
John Dunham with a revolver. 

1861. Savery's Avenue. This unique driveway - 
was built and presented the public by William 
Savery in 1861-2. It consists of parallel roads a 
distance of one half mile, shaded on each side and 
with a line of trees and shrubs between the two 
driveways. In January, 1861, Savery entered into 
an agreement with Eli Southworth, Jesse Mur- 
dock, Thomas Hammond, Tillson Atwood and Jo- 
seph Barrows, owners of the land through which 
the avenue was to extend, whereby said owners 
were to give the land and Savery to bear the ex- 
pense of building the road. The owners bonded 
themselves to the amount of one hundred dollars 
and Savery to the amount of five hundred dollars, 
for the faithful execution of the agreement. The 
trees between the roads and on the outside of them 
were to be left standing ' ' for shade and ornament 
for man and beast." Both roadbeds were Mac- 
adamized in 1907, a portion of the expense being 
advanced by the daughters of the builder, Mrs. 
Mary P. S. Jowitt and Miss H. D. Savery. 

1872. Charlotte furnace buildings burned. 

1873. Great Railroad fire. 
1877. Tramp house built. 

1881. E. D. Shaw Sons facing mill established. 
1885. Federal Assembly, K. of L. organized. 
Charter surrendered 1889. 

1889. Road commissioners elected. 



262 HISTORY OF CARVER 

1890. E. D. Shaw & Sons foundry built. Sold 
to Plymouth Foundry Co. in 1891. 

1893-98. E. Herman Murdock Superintendent 
of Streets. 

1895. Carver Public Library established. 

1898. William Dischane, Arcade A. Patenaude, 
Felix Pouliot and Harry F. Swift volunteer for 
Spanish- American war. 

1899. Eoad Commissioners elected. 

1901. First macadam road built. 

1902. Old Home Week observation instituted 
through the Library trustees. 

1905. Soldiers Monument. The Carver Ladies '' 
Soldiers Memorial Association was organized with 
one hundred members and the following of- 
ficers: President, Mrs. P. Jane Barrows; Vice- 
President, Mrs. Charlotte Cole; Secretary, Mrs, 
Helen F. McKay; Treasurer, Mrs. Laura L. Fin- 
ney. By collecting annual dues from its members,, 
holding lawn parties and general contributions, 
with an appropriation from the town, funds were 
collected and the monument dedicated with ap- 
propriate ceremonies Decoration day of 1910. 

1907. Capt. William S. McFarlin Sons of Vet- 
erans Camp 132, instituted with the following 
charter members : Arthur C. Atwood, Herbert F. 
Atwood, John E. Atwood, Frank E. Barrows, 
Arthur W. Burbank, Charles 0. Dunham, William 
C. Hatch, Jesse A. Holmes, Edward C. Shaw, El- 
bridge A. Shaw, Isaac W. Shaw, William M. Shaw, 
Carlton Shurtleff, Oliver L. Shurtleff, Percy W. 
Shurtleff, George L. Spaulding, Horace D. 
Stringer, George P. Thomas, Frank F. Weston, 
Seneca T. Weston. 



CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS 263 

1908. Frederick Andreson, Frank E. Barrows 
and Abbott G. Finney elected Park Commission- 
ers of Carver. This was the starting point of the 
park system. 

1908. The Woman's Alliance of Carver was 
organized July 15, 1908, with the following charter 
members: Delia Atwood, Laura A. Austin, Wil- 
helmina L. Cornish, Sadie F. Gibbs, Mabel Griffith, 
Mary P. S. Jowitt, Anne Eichmond McFarlin, El- 
doretta McFarlin, Helena McFarlin, Sarah F. Mc 
Farlin, Veretta McFarlin, Anna R. Savery, Ethel 
Savery, Hattie D. Savery, S. Louise Savery, Ger- 
trude F. Shaw, Nancy A. Shaw, Dora F. Tillson, 
Reba W. Tillson, Elva H. Washburn, Hattie D. 
Winberg. The following have joined the Alliance 
since its organization: Eleanor Barrows, Eliza- 
beth J. Barrows, Catherine Costello, Julia Cos- 
tello, Caroline Gibbs, Hannah Hawkes, Delia G. 
Kenney, Mary Lincoln, Emma T. Moore, Jane L. 
Moore, Susan A. Murdock, Ethel V. Roy, Anna K. 
Shaw, Daisy Vaughan. 

The East Head Game Preserve 
In 1908 George B. Clark and James J. Ryan 
secured an option on the Turner estate with a 
view to the establishment of a sanctuary for the 
propagation of game birds. A company was or- 
ganized consisting of Clark and Ryan, Charles W. 
Dimmick, Thomas W. Lawson, Paul Butler and 
others for the purpose of carrying out the project 
and the land came into the possession of the com- 
pany with Henry S. Blake as trustee. A be- 
ginning was made in the line of plowing and sow- 



264 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

ing seeds to provide feed for birds, and in 1911 
tlie premises were taken on a twenty year lease 
by the American Game Protective and Propaga- 
tion Association of New York conditional upon 
tbe continued use of the estate as a game sanctu- 
ary. Charles W. Dimmick continues as managing 
director. 

Active work began in 1912 when large flocks of 
ducks and pheasants were bred, also as experi- 
ments smaller flocks of ruffed grouse, quails, wild 
turkeys, silver and golden pheasants, etc. En- 
closures were made with high wire fencing, some 
of them taking in the Bowers trout pond for the 
convenience of water birds. The buildings were 
remodeled, a large bungalo built for the use of the 
managers, numerous small buildings for winter 
protection of the birds, and a general improve- 
ment in the conditions necessary for the success- 
ful continuation of the work. 




GK01»MJ1<: I'. ]iO\VKKS 



LANDMARKS OF CAEVEE 

Old Gate Eoad. Highway leading from the Ad- 
vent church to the B. W. Eobbins farm, once 
closed by a gate which had to be opened by travel- 
ers on that road. 

Joel Field. At the corner of Eochester Eoad 
and Pine street. Once the farm of Joel Shurtleff. 

Hemlock Island. Once a beautiful island on 
the west side of the cedar swamp densely wooded 
with hemlock and cedars. Noted also for its rank 
growth of ferns and for its thrifty painted tril- 
liums. The natural beauty of the spot has been 
destroyed by lumbermen. 

Province Rock. A large rock between East 
Head and Federal. Province Eock valley makes 
down to the South. 

Bodfish Bridge. Spans the Cranebrook near 
the Z. A. Tillson homestead. 

Shaky Bottom Bridge. Spans the brook lead- 
ing from the Smith-Hammond cranberry bogs. 

Tiger Field. A fertile spot in East Head woods 
under cultivation. 

Skipper Edmund Place. The site of an old 
homestead on the westerly shore of Wankinco, so 
named from its former habitant Edmund Bumpus, 
who at one time was skipper in the Federal fur- 
nace. Mr. Bumpus was specially noted as a lover 
of flowers and for his ability in forecasting the 
weather. 

265 



266 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Clarks Island. A place on Tremont street near 
the Wareham town line. 

Fox Island, Wolf Island and Shaws Island. 
Spots of upland in the New Meadows swamp. 

Goulds Bottom. A fertile field skirting the ob- 
solete Federal- Wareham road. 

Tillson Field. On the easterly edge of the New 
Meadows swamp. Once the home of the Tillsons. 

Jacksons Point. A point of land making into 
New Meadows swamp from Popes Point road. So 
named from its original owner, Abraham Jackson. 

Polypody Cove. A section of meadow on the 
Shurtleff farm supposed to have received its name 
from the rare ferns that grow there. Mentioned 
in Plymouth records in 1694. 

The Plains. A level tract of land in West 
Carver. 

Eobinson Swamp. The bed of Cranebrook cran- 
berry bog. 

Egypt. A spot once thickly wooded between 
North Carver and Rocky Meadow in Middleboro. 

Mt. Misery. A high hill between the railroad 
and the residence of Edgar E. Gardner. Said to 
be the highest elevation in Carver. 

Meeting Road. Leads from Johns pond to 
Ocean house. 

Swan Hold (sometimes Swan Holt). Mentioned 
in Plymouth records in 1662. Origin of name in 
dispute. Applied to the section East of Wenham. 

Wenham. The section of the town now known 
as East Carver. The village went by this name 
until after the Civil War. First mentioned in 
PljTuouth records in 1692. Supposed to have been 



LANDMARKS OF CARVER 267 

named in honor of the old country home of one 
of the first settlers of that region. 

Chris Springs. Former name of the pond now 
known as Bens pond south of Shoestring factory 
pond. So named from Crispus Shaw who resided 
on his farm near by. Sometimes called Chris 
Shaw springs. Triangle pond. 

King Philip Spring. Near Carver green. Tra- 
dition says it received its name from Indians in 
King Philip war who stopped to wash their hands 
in the place on their return after their attack on 
Chiltonville. King Philip 's hall received its name 
from the spring. 

Herring Brook. Former name of stream that 
runs from Wenham pond to the Weweantic river. 

Ocean House. Once a house standing on Main 
street south of Muddy pond bog. 

Lothrops Forge. Site of the Centre Mill. 

Pratt Place. Near Centre Mill. 

Molly Holmes Place. Near First Swamp. 

Barnes Mill. Saw mill that stood on the privi- 
lege now of the Swanhold Bog Co. 

James Savery Place. The site of the homestead 
of Fosdick road south of Lakenham cemetery. 

Lakenham. Name of North Carver village un- 
til the Civil War. So named in the grant of land 
to John Jenney in 1637. Origin of name unknown. 

Bensons Forge. (Later called Leach's Forge.) 
Where N. S. Cushing's saw mill now stands. 

Casey Place. The remnant of the Indian lands. 
So named from Augustus Casey, a South Carolina 
negro who married a daughter of Launa Seipet 
and reared his family on the old farm. 



268 HISTORY OF CARVER 

First Swamp. East of Carver Centre on the 
Plymouth road. Applied to the Ward farm and 
adjacent houses. Origin of name unknown. 

Bowers Trout Pond. In 1862 George P. Bowers 
built a dam across East Head brook creating an 
artificial pond for the purpose of breeding and 
raising trout. Since known as the Bowers trout 
pond. 

The Turner Place. In 1880 Job A. Turner of 
Scituate purchased a small tract of land on the 
east side of Barrett's pond and erected a cottage, 
library building, etc. Soon after that date he 
came into possession of three thousand acres 
around East Head and began clearing a farm. 
Several large fields were subdued and placed un- 
der cultivation. A larger house, with another 
cottage and a large barn were built near the Bow- 
ers Trout pond. Horses, ponies, cattle and poul- 
try were raised. On the death of Mr. Turner in 
1894 the farm was deserted and a few years later 
the Barrett's pond cottage and the trout pond 
house were demolished by forest fires and the 
property passed to the Game Preserve promoters. 

Cobb Place. At Mahutchett, now used as a bog 
house by John W. Churchill. Once the Major Ne- 
hemiah Cobb homestead; later the Asa Barrows 
homestead. 

Sixmile Brook. Frequently mentioned in earlier 
records. Not definitely located. Some have con- 
fused it with Hunting-house brook but the latter 
was known by its present name from the earliest 
times. 



LANDMARKS OF CARVER 269 

Quitticas. Village in West Carver so named 
from the Indian word being surrounded by 
swamps. 

Benson Cemetery. In Cushing field at Fresh 
Meadows where the first settlers were buried. 
The only headstone remaining marks the resting 
place of young William Morrison. 

New Bridge. Spans the Cranebrook where it 
crosses Cranberry road. 

Snappit. Corruption of Annasnapet the 
original name of the village in the north eastern 
section of the town. 

Kidd's Island. In Wenham pond, so named 
from a traditional incident. 

Pokanet Field. Near the river westerly from 
the residence of E. E. Shaw, so named from an 
Indian employee of the Shurtleff s. 

Fresh Meadows. The village in the south west- 
ern section of the town. 

Shurtleff Park. Donated to the town as a pub- 
lic park from the Shurtleff estate by Benjamin 
Shurtleff, M. D. in 1908. 

Carver Green. In 1736-37 Benoni and Jonathan 
Shaw deeded a tract of land to the Precinct to be 
used as a common. This became the training 
green of the Precinct and later of the town going 
by the name of Lakenham Green. After the civil 
war it assumed its modern name of Carver Green. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

HON. BENJAMIN ELLIS 

Benjamin Ellis was born in Plympton June 3, 
1775. He died in Carver April 18, 1852, leaving an 
estate of two hundred thousand dollars. Con- 
sidering his environments, his lack of early train- 
ing and education and the times in which he lived, 
this marks him as a Captain of Industry. 

There is nothing to indicate that his parents 
were above the ordinary people in the business 
world, when at the age of eighteen their son 
learned the trade of a moulder at Charlotte fur- 
nace. His rise was so rapid that in fifteen years 
he owned a controlling interest in the works and 
was recognized as a Baron in the trade. He had 
mastered all sides of the craft and after he be- 
came a Proprietor, he was in a position to give 
assistance to any of his employees whenever they 
were bothered with their parts. 

His recognized ability made him a valuable man 
in the political world and he held numerous posi- 
tions of trust and responsibility. Thrifty 
farmers who had spare capital, handed it over to 
Squire Ellis for investment with no further con- 
cern of the consequences. 

He was the leader in Carver town meetings for 
nearly half a century, holding the position of 

271 



272 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Moderator at no less than fifty-three of these 
legislative gatherings. He represented his town 
in the General Court at eight different sessions, 
was a representative to the Constitutional con- 
vention of 1820; and a State Senator at the ses- 
sions of 1825 and 1832, in which body he was 
known as the Cast Iron Senator. 

After the close of the war of 1812-14, and with 
plenty of capital, Mr. Ellis became a ship owner 
and extended the trade of his furnace through 
these vessels which he sent up and down the coast. 
Lewis Pratt, one of the trusted Lieutenants of 
Ellis, was often an agent accompanying the vessel 
to trade the cargo of iron products for butter, 
corn, cheese, pork, molasses, rum, etc. 

Personally Mr. Ellis was not a magnetic man, 
and it was only through his recognized ability that 
he captured the confidence of his neighbors. He 
was gruff in his intercourse with men and natural- 
ly unpopular. Comparing him with his compeer 
Col. Murdock, one who knew them both said, 
''They were both men of great capacity for ac- 
cumulating wealth, but one could hold on to it 
while the other could not." The one that could 
was Benjamin Ellis. 

He was twice married. First to Deborah Mur- 
dock by whom he had Hannah, (married Daniel 
"Weston), Deborah, (married Dr. Samuel Shaw), 
Charles Clinton, Lucy B. (married Samuel Tis- 
dale), Benjamin S. and Harriet N. (married 
Jesse Murdock). Second to Mary Savery, daugh- 
ter of Peleg ; by whom he had Louisa J. (married 
Joseph Pratt) and Matthias. 




JIOlfATIO A. LUCAS 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 273 

WILLIAM SAVERY 

The subject of this paragraph, oldest child of 
John and Polly Savery, was born in Carver, Oct. 
26, 1815. He married Mary Page Van Schaack 
of Albany, N. Y., and with the exception of twenty 
years in New Jersey and New York their long 
lives were spent in Carver where in 1850 Leyden 
Cottage was built on the northerly shore of Samp- 
sons pond. 

Mr. Savery began his business career at an 
early age being associated with his father in the 
iron trade in Jersey City and New Y^ork. His 
life was a busy one, and in addition to his foundry 
business he was at one time engaged in the lumber 
business being one of the first to utilize a portable 
mill. 

He also took an interest in public affairs and 
held numerous positions of trust. As an illustra- 
tion of his spirit he practiced medicine in his 
earlier years enjoying quite an extensive practice 
but always without compensation. He took a deep 
interest in the schools and highways of his native 
town adding materially to the town's appropria- 
tions for several years. One of Mr. Savery 's 
most unique and lasting monuments is Savory's 
Avenue which he built and presented the town in 
1860. 

MILES PRATT 

Son of David and Sarah was born in Carver, 
Sept. 17, 1825. His early days were spent on his 
father's farm and when the foundry was built at 
Wenham he became a furnaceman as moulder and 



274 HISTORY OF CARVER 

partner. About 1850 he embarked in business on 
Marthas Vineyard, and after remaining there a 
few months he went to Boston and engaged as 
salesman for a Blackstone St. stove dealer. A 
short time after this he started a store of his own 
but receiving a liberal offer he sold out. He thus 
found himself out of business but with a good 
stock of capital, and his foundry proclivities as- 
serting themselves he built a foundry at Water- 
town. When the Civil war broke out he received 
a large contract for making missiles of war in con- 
nection with the Arsenal, and for three years his 
shop was in operation night and day, with two 
sets of moulders and for a part of the time two 
cupolas. The profits of this contract landed him 
among the wealthy manufacturers, and taking the 
Walkers in company with him he established the 
Walker & Pratt Foundry Co. 

LEWIS PRATT 

A son of Lewis and Hannah (Bonney) was 
born in Carver, April 4, 1819. Strictly speaking 
perhaps Mr. Pratt came as near to that condition 
*'born in the iron business" as it is possible for 
one made up of human flesh. His father was a 
furnaceman and his mother's family was de- 
scribed locally as 'Hhe greatest iron founders in 
America." And young Lewis went soon after 
his birth to the Wankinco hills to reside with his 
parents where his father was operating the Slugg 
furnace. Thus his earliest recollections reverted 
to the industry and he had actually seen in opera- 




X C 



il rt 






BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 275 

tion all of the furnaces and foundries of Carver. 
Though but five years of age when he left "The 
Slugg ' ' he distinctly remembered seeing the plant 
in operation, and of being rowed around the fur- 
nace pond by Cephas Shaw, one of the moulders, 
on a raft. Shaw was ever a marvel in the memory 
of Mr. Pratt. He broke iron nails and rods with 
his fingers, lifted large pigs and performed other 
feats that were a marvel in the eyes of the boy. 
He also remembered seeing the Baptist church in 
process of construction and after the building had 
been framed he thought it must be the largest 
building in the world. Such impressions which 
Mr. Pratt recalled in his old age were very amus- 
ing to him and he gave the writer this bit of phil- 
osophy: "Whether one is a child or an adult 
things that he cannot do or understand are apt to 
impress him far in excess of their importance and 
unless he is on guard he may ascribe them to the 
supernatural. ' ' 

ARAD BARROWS 

Arad, son of Nelson and Nancy (Bisbee) Bar- 
rows was born July 22, 1819. He left Carver in 
1838 locating at Albany, N. Y., but went to Phil- 
adelphia the following year where he engaged in 
the iron business with Peleg Barrows Savery and 
continued the business until his death. 

He was interested in military affairs serving 
as Aide-de-camp on the staff of the Governor of 
Pennsylvania with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 
At the breaking out of the Civil war he took an 
active part in looking after the welfare of the 



276 HISTORY OF CARVER 

soldiers, serving as President of the Union Vol- 
unteers Eefreshment Saloon until the end of hos- 
tilities in 1865. He held numerous positions of 
trust but never held political office. He was a 
man of positive opinions on religious and political 
questions. A rock ribbed Eepublican and a Puri- 
tan-Quaker in religion although he never spoke 
the language or wore the garb of the sect. 

He married Ellen Bailey who with a son Wil- 
liam Nelson and a daughter Mrs. Katherine Ing- 
ham survived him. He died at Atlantic City, N. 
J., in 1888, where he located the previous year on 
account of failing health. 

ROSA A. COLE 

Eosa A., daughter of Benjamin and Lavina 
(Sherman) Cobb was born in that part of Carver 
called Wenham, March 27, 1841. Four years 
later her father who had been operating a small 
foundry in Wenham moved to Plymouth where in 
company with William E. Drew he established a 
larger stove making plant under the firm name of 
Cobb and Drew. In 1855, the buildings in Ply- 
mouth having been destroyed by fire, the business 
was moved to Kingston and the manufacture of 
tacks, rivets, etc., added to the business of the 
firm. Thus at the age of fourteen Eosa, as she 
had come to be known, became a resident of Kings- 
ton. In 1865 she married Leander S. Cole of 
Carver. 

Mrs. Cole was a woman of marked business abil- 
ity and upon the death of her father in 1868 she 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 277 

became active in the management of the business 
being associated with Byron C. Quinby. After 
his death in 1907 the business was incorporated, 
Mrs. Cole holding a large share of the stock, and 
Tip to the date of her death serving on the Board 
of Directors. She died at her home in Kingston, 
Feb. 4, 1911. 

The success of her business enterprises was 
such that she had means and time for charitable 
work. She was one of the incorporators of Jor- 
dan Hospital in PljTnouth and active in its 
management. Her charitable bequests aggregated 
nearly one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars and among them one thousand dollars each 
to the Carver Public Library and for the benefit 
of Lakenham Cemetery in Carver. 

BENJAMIN SHURTLEFF, M. D. 

Benjamin Shurtleff, son of Charles and Hannah 
(Shaw) Shurtleff, was born in Carver Sept. 7, 
1821, on the old Shurtleff farm that has been 
in th-e possession of his family since it was orig- 
inally granted to his ancestor William in 1701. 
He attended Carver schools. Pierce Academy in 
Middleboro, and was graduated from Harvard 
Medical School in 1848. While a student at the 
medical school it was his fortune to witness the 
first surgical operation on one made insensible to 
pain through the inhalation of ether, and he was 
said to be the last survivor of those who witnessed 
that great event. Dr. Shurtleff served on the 
■School Board of Carver in 1844 and 1845. 



278 HISTORY OF CARVER 

He went to the Pacific coast in 1849, sailing- 
Jan. 27th, and arriving in San Francisco July 
6th. For a brief time he served as a mine pros- 
pector, then took up the practice of his profession 
in Shasta. He returned to his old home in 1852,. 
when he was married to Miss Anne M. Griffith 
and returned to California. 

He was Shasta County 's first Treasurer ; in the 
State Senate for 1861-62-63 ; County Physician ten 
years, and a Presidential Elector in 1872. In 
1874 he moved to Napa, from which town he was- 
elected a member of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1878 ; was the first Mayor of Napa ; Presi- 
dent of the Board of Directors of Napa State 
Asylum sixteen years ; life member of the Society 
of California Pioneers, and of the Harvard 
Alumni Association. He died at his home in 
Napa Dec. 22, 1911. As a mark of the esteem 
with which he held his native town he presented 
Shurtleff Park to the public. 

JOHN SAVERY 

John Savery, son of Peleg, was born in Plymp- 
ton, Aug. 26, 1789. He was destined to a career 
in the iron trade, which he began at Charlotte 
Dec. 29, 1807. He mastered all sides of the 
craft from topman to Proprietor. Among hi& 
experiences as moulder, in which he had com- 
mendable pride, was the fact that he moulded shot 
for the war of 1812-14. After he became inter- 
ested as a Proprietor, he was associated with 
Benjamin Ellis, and leaving the partnership, he- 




AiNDKl^W GEIFFITII 

liis liocoid as a Municipal Officer has iiof boon surpassca in the 

History of the Tow n 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 279 

operated a plant iu Albany for a few years. In 
1838, in company with his son William, he estab- 
lished the Pheuix Iron Works in Jersey City, and 
soon after the firm of John Savery's Sons Co., 
a well known hardware house of New York city 
of the last century. 

Aside from his business duties he took a 
prominent part in politics, holding the position of 
Bepresentative to the General Court at four 
different times. He married Polly, daughter of 
Capt. Eli Atwood, by whom he had William, 
Polly (married Alexander Law), Hannah Perkins 
(married Samuel A. Shurtleff), Waitstill Atwood 
(married George Peter Bowers), and John (died 
in infancy). 

HON. THOMAS SAVERY 

Thomas, son of Peleg and Hannah (Perkins) 
Savery, was born in Plympton, Oct. 25, 1787. 
His early life was spent in Carver, where he 
entered Charlotte furnace as a gutterman in 1806. 
He was speedily promoted to a moulder, but left 
the furnace and moved to Wareham soon after 
his marriage. In the town of his adoption he 
became a business and political leader. He served 
as a Selectman, Representative in the General 
Court, County Commissioner, and for the years 
1853 and 1854 on the Governor's Council. He 
married Betsey, oldest daughter of ''Left" 
Joseph Shaw, by whom he had three children, 
John, born Nov. 3, 1815, being the only one who 
survived him. He died May 15, 1873. 



280 HISTORY OF CARVER 

COL. BARTLETT MURDOCK 

Bartlett, son of Bartlett, Jr., and Deborah 
(Perkins) Murdock, and grandson of Bartlett,. 
the founder of Charlotte furnace, was born in 
Plympton Dec. 7, 1783. His mother, left a 
widow at an early age, showed excellent business 
ability, and continued her interest in the firm. 
Inheriting the family traits, young Bartlett be- 
came a moulder in the family works, where his 
promotion was rapid. Becoming a partner of 
his brother-in-law, Benjamin Ellis, it soon 
transpired that Charlotte village was not large 
enough for the development of both, and Col. 
Murdock stepped over the line into Wareham, 
and established the Mt. Washington Iron Works 
at Tremont. He was a jolly soul, popular with 
his employees and neighbors, and his business 
career in his adopted town was marked with 
success. He married Hannah Atwood, by whom 
he had Uriel, Hiram (died in infancy), and 
Abigail. 

HON. OLIVER SHAW 

The subject of this paragraph, son of Joseph 
and Hannah (Dunham) Shaw, was born in 
Carver Feb. 5, 1831. At the age of eighteen he 
entered the foundry as an apprentice, and after 
working at his trade in foundries of Carver, 
Middleboro, Boston and Watertown, he became, 
in 1863, Superintendent of the stove works of 
Miles Pratt & Co., in Watertown. He served in 
this capacity, through the different managements 



\ 




WLl.lJAM sa\'p:ry 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 281 

of the Watertown works, until his death, being 
one of the directors upon the incorporation of 
the business in 1877. He was one of the incor- 
porators of the Watertown Savings Bank in 
1872, and one of the original trustees; elected 
President of the Union Market National Bank 
in 1883; holding both positions to the time 
of his death. From 1870 to 1885 he was on 
the Board of Selectmen of his adopted town, 
the greater part of the time serving as Chair- 
man. In the election of 1894 he was elected 
Senator from the Second Middlesex District, 
but died December 26th of that year, before 
the Senate to which he was elected was organ- 
ized. He was married in 1855 to Miss Miranda 
Atwood of Carver. 



DEA. THOMAS COBB 

Thomas, son of Thomas and Hannah Cobb, 
was born in Carver Aug. 17, 1808. He was a 
direct descendant of Elder Henry Cobb, who 
landed in Plymouth in 1629, and who later be- 
came one of the best known residents of Barn- 
stable County, and among his ancestors were 
such Old Colony families as Bennett, Holmes, 
Nelson, Morton, Churchill, Bryant and Shaw. He 
married Mary Hammond, by whom he had 
Almira H. (married William H. Barrows) ^ 
Jerusha, Juliet, Thomas and Solon (Reverend). 
He was one of the best known men of the town 
in his day, and having served as Deacon of the 
church at the Green a period of fifty-two years, 
he was popularly known as Deacon Cobb. 



282 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Through a kindly disposition he made a lasting 
impression on all with whom he came in contact, 
and many of the present generation look back to 
their childhood days with pleasant memories of 
Deacon Cobb, who was the first to peddle pastry 
and candy through the town. 

He died at his home near the Green, August 
25, 1886. 

GEORGE PETER BOWERS 

George P. Bowers, who was destined to play 
a prominent part in the development of Carver, 
was a native of Leominster, where he was bom 
in 1813. Among the traditional stories, more 
or less hazy, which illustrate his character, con- 
cerns the time in his early career when he was 
sent away as manager of one of Ben. Ellis' 
trading vessels. He was under orders to trade 
his cargo of ware for anything salable, and in 
due time his employer was startled by a letter 
from his agent to the effect that the cargo of 
ware had been traded for a cargo of warming 
pans, and that the agent was on his way to Cuba 
to trade the pans for rum and molasses. Shrewd 
Ben Ellis couldn't see any demand for warming 
pans in a tropical climate, but when the agent 
returned with the report that the pans were 
eagerly taken by the molasses manufacturers as 
utensils for handling their goods, his apparent 
blunder was forgiven. 

Mr. Bowers was a bold operator, with unlimited 
faith in his ventures. Hence he was the pro- 
moter and one of the active managers of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 283 

only cotton mill the town has ever had, and also 
the first to engage in the cultivation of cran- 
berries on a large scale. While he died before 
the industry was fully developed, the success of 
the East Head bog has confirmed his judgment, 
not only in the trade generally, but in his method 
of bog construction. 

Mr. Bowers was twice married. First to Miss 
Waitstill A. Savery, and second to Miss Eliza A. 
Shaw. 

MAJOR THOMAS B. GRIFFITH 

As a strong individuality Major Griffith made 
a lasting mark. Before entering upon his 
business career he travelled extensively, shipping 
on two whaling voyages to South America and 
the Indian Ocean. After he retired from the 
sea he spent short terms clerking in Cincinnati 
and New York, and then returned to Carver, 
where he was employed as a clerk by Benjamin 
Ellis & Co. until he embarked in business for 
himself. 

In addition to his military and business 
activities in Carver, he was one of the promoters 
of Onset Bay, settling there to establish a Spritu- 
alistic resort, when the land was unbroken oak 
hills, and he was a leading figure in the develop- 
ment of the resort. He was also one of the pro- 
moters of the United Fruit Company that met with 
marvelous success in the development of the 
fruit trade. 

Major Griffith was born in Middleboro, near the 
Carver line, May 17, 1823, a son of Ellis and 



284 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Lucy M. (Bent) Griffith. He married in 1852 
Hannah M., daughter of Isaac L. and Hannah 
Dunham. 



EBEN D. SHAW 

A son of Joseph and Hannah, was born Feb. 8, 
1823. The iron trade was characteristic of his 
family, and he became a moulder at an early age. 
By 1850 he was operating a foundry of his own 
in Middleboro. In 1868 he started the David 
Pratt foundry at Wenham with horse power. He 
made a specialty of hollow ware, and is said to 
have been the first to utilize iron flasks for 
moulding. The following year he moved the 
business to Plymouth, and became one of the 
incorporators of the Plymouth Foundry Com- 
pany on Water street. The last of his projects 
was the establishment of a charcoal facing plant 
at Carver, in company with his sons, Eugene E. 
and Frederick W., under the firm name of E. D. 
Shaw & Sons. 

E. TILLSON PRATT 

This best known of school teachers of Carver 
was born June 6, 1825, a son of Tillson and 
Elizabeth Pratt. His life was devoted to the 
cause of education, and he was an active enthusiast 
in the development of our school system. Upon 
his death he left his estate as a perpetual fund, 
the income of which goes to the benefit of the 
schools. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 285 

MRS. P. JANE BARROWS 

Priscilla Jane, daughter of Joseph and Hannah 
(Dunham) Shaw, was bom Aug. 1, 1832. She 
married Pelham W. Barrows. 

Through her parents she was a scion of the 
first settlers of this region and of numerous Old 
Colony families. She was always actively in- 
terested in public affairs. When the news of 
the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox reached 
her she hastened to the Baptist church, where 
she rang the bell as a signal for the general 
rejoicing. She was a promoter of the Carver 
Ladies' Soldiers Memorial Association, and 
served as its President until its object was 
achieved. She was also one of the promoters 
of the Old Home gatherings, where her extended 
acquaintances and democratic manners made her 
a happy medium. She was popularly hailed as 
Aunt Jane. 

JOHN MAXBI, JR. 

A celebrated local wit and writer, John 
Maxim, Jr., was born in 1795, in the house at 
Huckleberry Corner, where his eighty-eight 
years were spent. He was four times married, 
first Miss Susannah Pratt, second Miss Ellen 
Pratt, third Miss Sarah P. Mulford, fourth Mrs. 
Susan A. Lawrence. 

At an early age he began to write for the local 
press under the nom de plume of Bemis, and for 
seventy years his contributions were noted for 



286 HISTORY OF CARVER 

their originality. Many of his news items were 
made np in the form of rhymes, as: 

' ' On Saturday noon I saw a balloon 
And fixed my eyes upon herj 
To my delight she did alight 
In Huckleberry Corner." 

Mr. Maxim entered the blast furnace and be- 
came a moulder of the old school, and through 
his native gifts he matched the jolly crews, and 
his jokes and repartee are proverbial. He at- 
tained his widest fame in the Presidential 
campaign of 1840, when he published a campaign 
songster that went through two editions and did 
its part in fanning the enthusiasm of that re- 
markable political contest. He travelled on the 
log cabin floats in this section of the State, 
singing from his song book at the rallies. His 
songs were witty hits on the political slang of 
the day, adapted to the popular melodies, and 
aroused great enthusiasm among the "Whigs. 
The following may be taken as a sample, sung 
to the air of Yankee Doodle: 

"Thus was our nation sore oppressed 

By Little Martin Vanny, 
Who by next Spring must leave his nest 

For Harrison his granny. 
Martin's aristocracy 

Makes the people wonder 
Loeo-Foeo-ocracy 

To Whiggery knocks under." 

In the Polk campaign of 1844 Mr. Maxim 
continued the same tactics, but with less en- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 287 

thusiasm. The following from one of his songs 
of the second campaign perhaps illustrates the 
Whig sentiment concerning the Mexican war: 

"Locofoeos haste away 
To Mexico A\dthout delay, 
The fight began with LocOs crew 
And now his men must fight it through. ' ' 

Following these episodes he turned to the 
anti-slavery agitation, and following the Civil 
war he devoted his writing and songs to the 
cause of temperance. He was a musician, 
playing the violin, and a music teacher and com- 
poser of no little talent, but as a witty writer 
he made his most lasting impression. The fol- 
lowing may be selected as characteristic of his 
style : 

On the request of a young lady for a declama- 
tion for a school concert he handed her the fol- 
lowing : 

' ' Young ladies all on you I call 
To pause, reflect, and think; 
Withhold your hand from that young man 
Who loves to use strong drink. 

"He's on the way to misery's day 
Which soon will overtake him, — 
If he looks fair as lilies are 
Young woman, 0, forsake him. 

"He's not the boy to raise your joy 
But for a little season. 
For rum and gin his love will win 
And override his reason. 



288 HISTORY OF CARVER 

''Then you'll be left, of peace bereft 
And all your comforts fled, — 
Such is the fate of small and great 
Who do rum drinkers wed." 



REV. SOLON COBB 

The most eminent of the pulpit orators who 
commenced their career in Carver, and who did 
faithful service in impressing the New England 
character on our American life, Eev. Solon Cobb, 
was born in Carver, Sept. 12, 1839, son of Dea. 
Thomas and Mary (Hammond) Cobb. He was 
educated in the public schools, and after a short 
experience as a teacher, he prepared for the minis- 
try in the Theological schools at Andover, Mass., 
and Auburn, N. Y. 

From 1864 to the date of his death he was in 
the service of the church at the following pas- 
torates : 

First Presbyterian church, Oswego, N. Y., 1864 
to 1869. 

Congregationalist church, Medway, Mass., 1869 
to 1875. 

Congregationalist church, Jacksonville, Fla., 
1875 to 1878. 

Central Presbyterian church, Erie, Penn., 1878 
to 1894. 

Point Breeze Presbyterian church, Pittsburg, 
Penn., 1894 to 1900. 

He was married in 1865 to Miss Hannah D. 
Anthony of New Bedford, by whom he had one 
son, now 'pastor of the Presbyterian church at 




MRS. EOSA A. COLE 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 289 

Cambridge Springs, Perm. He was created a 
Doctor of Divinity by the University of Western 
Pennsylvania. He died at his home in Pittsburg, 
May 26, 1900. 

ELLIS H. CORNISH, M. D. 

Born in Halifax, Mass., Ang. 24, 1840. Edu- 
cated in the public schools of his native town, at 
Pierce Academy, Middleboro, and graduated from 
Harvard Medical School. Taught school for brief 
periods in Middleboro and Bridgewater and began 
the practice of his profession at North Carver in 
1868. He was married on Jan. 1st of that year 
to Miss Nancy Pratt who had been a pupil in his 
Bridgewater school. 

His life was spent in Carver, where he enjoyed 
a large practice extending over the adjoining 
towns. He was noted for his sincerity, his sym- 
pathy for people in distress, and for an unselfish 
devotion to his profession. For over forty years 
he was a welcomed visitor in the homes of the 
afflicted, where his skill and integrity carried hope, 
and his chief motive was in doing good. He died 
at his home in South Carver, July 24, 1910. 



HON. PELEG McFARLIN 

Aside from his business career Mr. McFarlin 
developed marked talent as a writer and speaker. 
When the iron industry began to decline he en- 
tered heartily into the movement for tariff re- 
form, taking high rank among the advocates of the 



290 HISTORY OF CARVER 

principles of the New England Free Trade 
League. While the greater part of his work was 
devoted to political and economic questions, he 
wrote much from a purely literary standpoint 
covering a wide range of subjects. For twenty- 
five years the writings of Ruralis and Logan, nom 
de plumes over which he wrote, were features of 
the local press. His contributions in both prose 
and poetry dealt in an original vein with local 
history, tradition and general philosophy, and 
these contributions now afford a bright star in 
local annals. He was an all around writer — not 
a genius — for as he wrote: ''A man of genius is, 
as a rule, erratic, and his title to fame almost in- 
variably depends on some supreme effort. It 
would seem as if his soul possessed but one drop 
of the pure oil of genius, touched by a live coal 
from the altar of fancy, flamed forth with porten- 
tious brilliancy, lighting to the view of the world, 
a hitherto undiscovered realm of beauty. While 
yet the exalted vision lingers, he writes his name 
beneath the picture and 'tis his forever more.' 
And so with little men who tread the lower plane ; 
and so with the modest dabbler with ink who 
writes the village news. His pathway is, for the 
most part, flower girt and easy, but he sometimes 
meets the stony hill and seeks its summit with 
toiling steps." 

He was a versatile writer, confining himself to 
no particular style or hobby and playing much 
with humor and satire. Perhaps the most noted 
of his poetical sketches was ' ' The Money Digger, ' ' 
in which he related in three chapters the locally 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 291 

famous story of the finding of Capt. Kidd 's treas- 
ure on the island in Wenham pond. Yet he could 
turn to a serious vein, as note a quotation from a 
poem on "Autumn Days": 

"Once more the gleaners bind their sheaves 

That mark the season's wane, 
"Once more we note the rustling leaves 

Upon the harvest plain. 

"The tardy morn, the hastening shade. 
The crickets in the grass. 
Giving a voice to every blade 
To swell their evening mass. 

"The falHng fruit, the bending vines, 
The ripe and golden grain, 
These, hold the sure and grateful signs. 
Of Autumn's generous reign. 

"Thy precepts, Autumn, closer bind 
My trusting heart to thee. 
And Nature never seems so kind. 
Nor smiles so sweet to me, 

"As when the flowers begin to fade 
Along the darkened wall. 
And one by one, within the glade. 
The leaves begin to fall." 



PRECINCT OFFICERS, PARISH OFFICERS, 
CHURCH MEMBERS, TOWN OFFICERS 

PRECINCT CLERKS 



Joseph Lucas 


1732- 


-1740 


Joseph Bridgham 


1741- 


-1745 


Benjamin Shurtleff 


1746- 


-1757 


Samuel Lucas 




1758 


Benjamin Shurtleff 


1759- 


-1760 


Frances Shurtleff 




1761 


Dea. Lucas 




1762 


Samuel Lucas 


1763- 


-1765 


Frances Shurtleff 




1766 


Samuel Lucas 


1767- 


-1768 


Frances Shurtleff 


1769- 


-1779 


Nehemiah Cobb 


1780- 


-1790 


Abiel Shurtleff 


1791- 


-1799 


Ephraim Pratt 


1800- 


-1818 


Levi Vaughan 


1819- 


-1824 


Lemuel Pratt 


1825- 


-1828 


Ephraim Harlow 


1829- 


-1830 


PRECINCT 


TREASURERS 




Samuel Jackson 




1732 


John Cole 


1733- 


-1736 


Samuel Jackson 


1737- 


-1741 


George Barrows, Jr. 


1742- 


-1744 


Joseph Bridgham 




1745 


Rowland Hammond 




1746 



293 



294 HISTORY OF CAEVER 



John Shaw 


1747- 


-1750 


Rowland Hammond 


1751- 


-1766 


Samuel Lucas 


1767- 


-1780 


Issacher Fuller 


1781- 


-1782 


Dea. Samuel Lueas 




1783 


Samuel Lucas, 3d 


1784—1786 


Isaiah Tillson 




1787 


Nehemiah Cobb 


1788- 


-1790 


Capt. Crooker 




1791 


Capt. Benj. Croker 




1792 


Nehemiah Cobb 


1793- 


-1810 


Thomas Cobb 


1811- 


-1814 


Ebenezer Doten 


1815- 


-1816 


Rufus Sherman, Jr. 


1817- 


-1818 


Thomas Cobb 


1819- 


-1822 


Rufus Sherman, Jr. 


1823- 


-1825 


Alven Vaughan 


1826- 


-1830 


PRECINCT 


COLLECTORS 




Jabez Nye 




1732 


Barnabas Atwood 




1733 


Abel Crocker 




1734 


John Shaw 




1735 


Elisha Lucas 




1736 


Jabez Eddy, Jr. 




1737 


Benjamin Shurtleff 




1738 


Ichabod Shurtleff 




1739 


William Lucas 




1740 


Joseph Pratt 




1741 


Nathaniel Shaw 




1742 
1743 






1744 


Samual Lucas 




1745 


Moses Shaw 




1746 


Jonathan Tillson 


' 


1747 



PRECINCT OFFICERS 


Samuel Tillson 


1748 


Bonum Nye 


1749 


David Ransom 


1750 




1751 
1752 


Moses Barrows 


Dea, Dunham 


1753 


Eleazer Crocker 


1754 


Joshua Perkins 


1755 


Cornelius Dunham 


1756 




1757 
1758 


Eleazer Robbins 


Nathaniel Cobb, Jr. 


1759 


Nathan Cobb 


1760 


William Shurtleff 


1761 


Elkanah Lucas 


1762 


John Bridgham 


1763 


Nathaniel Cobb, Jr. 


1764 


Nathaniel Cobb, Jr. 


1765 


Azariah Whitton 


1766 


Consider Chase 


1767 


Barnabas Lucas 


1768 


Consider Chase 


1769 


Consider Chase 


1770 


Gideon Sampson 


1771 


Joshua Perkins 


1772 


David Wood 


1774 


Isaac Nye 


1777 


Eleazer Crocker 


1778 


Abial Shurtleff 


1779 


Elias Nye 


1780 


Gideon Barrows 


1781 


Peleg Barrows 


1781 


John Shurtleff 


1782 


John Shaw, Jr. 


1782 


Benjamin Cobb 


1783 



295 



296 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Isaac Shaw 1784 
Isaac Shaw Lucas 1785 
Jabez Churchill 1785 
Barnabas Cobb 1786 
Jonathan Tillson 1789 
Isaac Shaw 1790 
Consider Chase 1791 
Benj. Shurtleff 1792 
Nathaniel Vaughan 1794 
Benj. Shurtleff 1795 
Moses Dunham 1796 
Ebenezer Doten 1797 
Benjamin Cobb 1807 
Thomas Cobb 1808 
Asaph Washburn 1808 
Levi Vaughan 1809 
Thomas Barrows 1809 
Stephen Shurtlefe 1810 
Nehemiah Cobb 1810 
John Waterman 1811 
Lieut. Isaiah Tillson 1811 
Israel Dunham 1812 
Stephen Shurtleff 1813 
Hezekiah Cole 1814 
Stephen Shurtleff 1814 
Levi Vaughan 1815 
Hezekiah Cole 1816 
Charles Barrows 1817 
Levi Vaughan 1818 
Ephraim Pratt 1819 
Ebenezer Fuller 1821 
Job Morton 1825 
Ephraim Harlow 1826 
Thomas Hammond 1826 
1827 




DEA. THOMAS COTJB 



PRECINCT 


OFFICERS 




Ebenezer Fuller 




1828 


Ephraim Harlow 




1829 


Levi Vaughan 




1830 


Alvin Vaughan 




1830 


PRECINCT 


JANITORS 




Eleazer Jackson 


1735- 


-1736 


Samuel Barrows 




1737 


Isaac Waterman 


1738- 


-1739 


George Barrows, Jr. 


1740- 


-1742 


Lieut, Jonathan Shaw 


1743- 


-1744 


Samuel Shaw 


1745- 


-1747 


Samuel Barrows 




1748 


Samuel Shaw 




1749 


Abel Crocker 




1750 


George Barrows, Jr. 


1751- 


-1760 


James Wallis 


1761- 


-1776 


Issacher Fuller 




1777 


John Sherman 




1778 


Dea. Savery 




1779 


Issacher Fuller 




1780 


Jonathan Tillson 




1781 


Andrew Barrows 


1782- 


-1783 


Dea. Thomas Savery 




1784 


Issacher Fuller 




1784 


Ebenezer Ransom 




1784 


Samuel Cobb 




1784 


Benjamin Cobb 




1784 


Jonathan Tillson 




1784 


Timothy Cobb 




1785 


Ebenezer Ransom 


1786- 


-1787 


Benjamin Cobb 




1788 


Ebenezer Ransom 




1789 


Samuel Cobb 




1790 


Jonathan Tillson 




1791 



297 



298 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Samuel Cobb 1792 

Benjamin Cobb 1793 

Andrew Barrows 1794 

Benjamin Cobb 1795—1796 

Isaiah Tillson 1797 

Jonah Bisbee 1798 

Asaph Bisbee 1799 

Job Cole 1800 

Asaph Bisbee 1801 

Calvin Howland 1802 

Asaph Bisbee 1803 

Job Cole 1804—1806 

Ebenezer Fuller 1807 

Benjamin Cobb 1808 

Jane Bisbee 1809—1813 

James Savery 1814 — 1815 

Jane Bisbee 1816—1819 

None 1820—1822 

Job Cole 1823 

Ephraim Harlow 1824 

PRECINCT STANTDING COMMITTEE 

Those who served and the Year for which they served 

Barnabas Atwood 1759 

Nathaniel Atwood 1743 

Ensign Nathaniel Atwood 1744, 45 
Lieut. Nathaniel Atwood 1749 — 51, 54, 55 

Charles Barrows 1830 

George Barrows 1736, 57—61 
Lothrop Barrows 1817, 23, 26, 28, 29 

Moses Barrows 1748 

Peleg Barrows 1812 — 15 

Joseph Bridgham, Esq. 1749 

Dr. Joseph Bridgham 1738—40 



PRECINCT OFFICERS 



299 



Benjamin Cobb 
Nathan Cobb 
Nehemiah Cobb 
Timothy Cobb 
Thomas Cobb 
Abel Crocker 
Dea. Abel Crocker 
Eleazer Crocker 
Dea. Dunham 
Capt. Israel Dunham 
Dea. Silvanus Dunham 
Richard Dwelly 
Benjamin Ellis 
Ebenezer Fuller 
Isaac Fuller 
Thomas Hammond 
Lieut. Eleazer Jackson 
Samuel Jackson 
Abijah Lucas 
Elisha Lucas 
Joseph Lucas 
Samuel Lucas 
Samuel Lucas 
Samuel Lucas 
Samuel Lucas, 3d 
Lieut. Samuel Lucas 
Joshua Perkins 
Benjamin Ransom 
Ebenezer Ransom 
Joseph Robbins 
Benoni Shaw 
John Shaw 
Capt. Joseph Shaw 
Nathaniel Shaw 
Nathaniel Shaw 
Capt. Nathaniel Shaw 



1824 

1813—15, 24 

1802—11, 17, 18 

1787—90 

1819—22, 28, 29 

1737—39, 41, 42, 46, 47 

1752 

1762—64, 70—83 

1756 

1823, 26 

1765—69 

1732—33 

1816, 19 

1827, 30 

1787 

1812 

1734, 35 

1736 

1797—1802, 12, 16, 19 

1740, 46—48, 52, 53 

1733 

1732 

1791—96 

1825, 26 

1783—86 

1734—36 

1785, 86 

1825 

1737 

1830 

1743 

1741, 42, 53 

1825—27 

1775—83 

1759, 60 

1763, 64, 70—74, 84 



300 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Samuel Shaw 1737—42, 44—48, 50, 57 

Capt. Shaw 1761, 62 

John Sherman 1803—11, 16 

Levi Sherman 1824, 28, 29 

Capt. Nathaniel Sherman 1794—1802 

Abial Shurtleff 1787 

Capt, Barnabas Shurtleff 

1732—35, 43, 44, 49, 50—55 
Benjamin Shurtleff 1758 

Benjamin Shurtleff 1791—96, 98—1801 

Lothrop Shurtleff 1820—22 

Shurtleff, Esq. 1756 

Edward Stevens 1803—11 

Isaiah Tillson 1782, 84—86, 1891—93 

Jonathan Tillson 1757, 58, 60 

Lieut. Jonathan Tillson 1761—69, 80, 81 

Daniel Vaughan 1770—74 

James Vaughan 1797 

Joseph Vaughan 1788—90 

Levi Vaughan 1817, 18, 20—23, 26 

PRECINCT ASSESSORS 

With the Years for which they served. None were 
elected for the years 1805, 1820, 1826, 1827 

Nathaniel Atwood 1746 

Lothrop Barrows 1825 

Joseph Bridgham 1741, 42, 46 

Barnabas Cobb 1791, 92, 95, 97—1801 
Nehemiah Cobb 

1781—89, 90, 92, 93, 99, 1802^, 7, 10 

Eleazer Crocker 1762 

Ebenezer Doten 1802—4, 6—19 

Thomas Doty 1790 

Richard Dwelley 1733 



PRECINCT OFFICERS 301 



Benjamin Ellis 




1806, 10 


George Hammond 




1763—67, 72—77 


Rowland Hammond 






1743—45, 


47—51, 53, 55—58 


Thomas Hammond 




1813—16, 28 


Ephraim Harlow 




1822—24 


Elisha Lucas 




1739_45, 47 


John Lucas 




1755, 59—62 


Joseph Lucas 




1732—34, 36—42 


Lieut. Samuel Lucas 


1735 


Samuel Lucas 




1748—51 


Dea. Samuel Lucas 


1752- 


-54, 56—58, 71—83 


Samuel Lucas 3d 




1784—86, 88, 89 


Samuel Lucas, Jr. 






1790—97, 


1800-4, 7, 8, 17 19, 21 


John Murdock 




1732—40 


Luke Perkins 




1809, 11, 12 


David Pratt 




1825 


Lemuel Pratt 




1821 


Benjamin Ransom 




1829 


James Robbins 




1759—61 


Abial Shurtleff 




1788, 89 


Capt. Barnabas Shurtleff 


1732, 34, 35 



Benjamin Shurtleff 

1743—47, 49—52, 54, 55, 59—62 
Benjamin Shurtleff 1787, 90, 91, 93—99 

David Shurtleff 1736—38 

Francis Shurtleff, Esq. 1768—73, 78—87 

Henry Sherman 1830 

Levi Sherman 1822—25, 28—30 

Capt. Nathaniel Sherman 

1794_96, 98, 1800, 01, 06, 08 

Thomas 1802 

Jonathan Tillson 1748, 52—54, 56, 58 

Lieut. Jonathan Tillson 1763—71, 74—80 

Levi Vaughan 1811—19, 21—24, 28—30 



302 HISTORY OF CARVER 

PAEISH OFFICEES 

The parish, inheriting the form without the 
authority of the precinct, speedily adjusted its 
aifairs to changing conditions. While collectors 
were chosen for two years their uselessness was 
so apparent that the obsolete office was abolished 
and the modern custom of appointing soliciting 
committees instituted. These committees — one 
for each school district in town, were instructed 
to collect the subscriptions and pay them over to 
the Treasurer. For a few years the position of 
janitor was set up at auction and let to the lowest 
bidder, but this custom was of short duration 
when the matter was left in the hands of the 
standing committee. 

While the North and Centre societies main- 
tained their union there was a semblance of life 
in the parish. The standing committee had charge 
of both meeting houses; members of both so- 
cieties were on the committee ; and the parish, by 
vote, apportioned the services between the houses 
of worship. From the time the union was sun- 
dered (about 1853) the meetings of the parish 
were little but duplicates of the North church 
meetings, although the custom was continued 
until 1896. 

PARISH CLERKS 

WiUiam Barrows 1831—1840 

Thomas Cobb • 1841—1854 

C. H. Chase 1855—1857 

Ralph Copeland 1858 

C. H. Chase 1859 



PARISH OFFICERS 303 

Ralph Copeland 1860 — 1869 

C. H. Chase 1870—1872 

WilKam W. Atwood 1873—1874 

Benjamin W. Robbins 1875—1896 

PARISH TREASURERS 

Alvin Vaughau 1831—1833 

Ephraim Harlow 1834 

Dea. Levi Vaiighan 1835 — 1844 

Timothy Cobb 1845—1851 

James B. Tillson 1852—1854 

Ezra Lucas 1855—1856 

Ralph Copeland 1857—1869 

Rufus J. Brett 1870—1877 

Theron M. Cole 1878—1896 

PARISH STANDING COMMITTEE 

Reuel Atwood 1854 

William W. Atwood I860, 62 — 67 

Charles Barrows 1843 — 45 

Capt. Lothrop Barrows 1836, 38 — 40 

Rufus J. Brett 1856—59, 68—73 

Benjamin Chase 1849, 51 

Timothy Cobb 1842, 51 
Thomas Cobb 1836, 37, 50, 51, 55—61, 68—82 

Theron M. Cole 1895, 96 

Thomas Cushman 1855, 56 

Ebenezer Fuller 1831 

Thomas Hammond 1842 — 46, 54, 55 

Ahdn C. Harlow 1853 

Ephraim Harlow 1838 — 40 

Ezra Lucas 1842 

Capt. Benjamin Ransom 1833 

Benjamin Robbins 1874, 75, 83 — 96 

Chandler Robbins 1846 — 50 



304 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Joseph Robbins, Jr. 1831, 32 

Ichabod Sampson 1852, 53 

William S. Savery 1831—33, 50 
Charles S. Shaw 

Henry Sherman 1834-40, 45, 52, 62, 67-95 

Levi Sherman 1846, 48 

Nelson Sherman 1896 

Rufus Sherman 1834, 35 

James B. Tillson 1847—49, 52, 54 

Alvin Vaughan 1832 — 34, 37 

Daniel Vaughan 18^3 

Ezra Vaughan 1857-60, 77-94 

Isaac Vaughan 1835 

Levi Vaughan 1843, 44 




JOHN MAXIM, .Ji;. 
Mule widely kuuwii as Bcniis, the bard of llucklebei ly Corner 



CHUECH MEMBERS 305 
DEACONS, CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 

Thomas Savery 



Nehemiah Cobb 1807 

Isaac Shaw Lucas 

Levi Vaughan 1822 

Nathan Cobb 1824 

Thomas Cobb 1829 

Thomas Hammond 

Thomas Cushman 1857 

William W. Atwood 1864 

Job C. Chandler 1877 

Charlotte E. Eames 1888 

Theron M. Cole 1903 

Benjamin W. Robbins 1903 

Edgar E. Gardner 1912 



MEMBERS OF CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH 

Through the loss of the records of Eev. Othniel 
Campbell there is no record of the church mem- 
bership preceding the ministry of Rev. John How- 
land. But the list of subscribers towards the 
building of the first meeting house may be taken 
as a basis and it doubtless includes the active 
church workers for that period. The agreement 
and list of subscribers follow: 

"Whereas we ye Subscribers Being by ye 
Providence of God Settled where we Live Very 
Remote from ye Publict Worship & being Desir- 
ous to accomodate our Selves & Familys with ye 
more convenient attending upon the Same Which 



306 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Can Not be Done without Bulding a Meting 
House Which we promas to Do at a Place called 
Laginham near to ye Buring Hill in ye Southerly 
Part of Plympton viz. on that Side of the Buring 
Hill next to Laginham brook on a Spot Left to 
Mr. Georg Bonum. To apoint and to begin to 
buld the sd House when the major part of ye Sub- 
scribers Shall Agree upon. Pursuant to sd 
Promis we each of us for our Selves Covenant and 
Promis to Give ye Severil sums herein Sett Down 
against our names In this list against names In 
this towards Bulding sd House that Is to Give 
Two Thirds in Specie For Bulding Sd House & 
ye other Third in money & to pay in ye same such 
time that shall be Desired by ye Major part of 
ye Subscribers & to pay ye Severil Sums unto 
Eichard Dwely & Isaac Waterman or as they shall 
order & we do also Give to our sd Trustees above 

sd full Power the Severil Sums Subscribed & 

Eecover ye Same according as ye major part of 
ye Subscribers Shall Apoint & Agree upon for 

ye & for ye True Performance of ye Promis 

above sd we have Sett with the Severil Sums 

against our names. 

Dated at Plympton October 1731." 

Georg Shaw Peleg Barrows 

Jonathan Shaw, Jun Joseph Pratt, Jun 

Abel Crocker Benajah Pratt 

Benj. Churchill Jabez Eddy, Jun 

John Murdock, Esq. Timothy Tillson 

John Witton Moses Eddy 

Isaiah Witton ( ?) Benj. Wood 



CHURCH MEMBERS 



307 



Jabez Nye 
John Shurtleff 
Nehemiah Benett 
Capt. Hall, 

of Little Compton 
Nathaniel Morton 
Sam'l Wood 
"William Lucas 
John Cole 
John Doten, Jun 
Jacob Doten 
Moses Barrows 
Ebenezer Bonum 
John Murdock 
Ichabod Shiirtleff 
David Shurtleff 
Samuel Shurtleff 
Jona'n Shaw 
Samuel Barrows 
Benj. Gurney 
Joseph Cole 
Benjamin Cole 
Jabez Pratt 
Ebenezer Ransom 
Joseph Ransom 
Elezer Jackson 



Moses Shaw 
John Robens 
Sam'l Jackson 
John Doten 
Ransom Jackson 
Thos. Pratt 
Shubet Lewes 
Joseph Lucas 
George Barrows 
Jonathan Shaw 
Sam'l Lucas 
Jabez Eddy 
Sam'l Shaw 
Isaac "Waterman 
Benoni Shaw 
James Shaw 
Richard Dwely 
Elisha Lucas 
John Shaw 
Nath'l Atwood 
Barnabas Shurtleff 
Barnabas Atwood 
Sam'l Ransom 
Benj. Pratt 
Theophilus Crocker 



MEMBERS OF FIRST CHURCH 
With date when admitted 



1746 John Howland 
Anne Barns 

1748 Joseph Rickard 

1749 Rowland Hammond 

1750 Richard Bowman 



1751 Eleazer Crocker 

1752 George Barrows 
Abigail Lucas 

1754 David Hearvy 
(Pembroke) 



308 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



1754 Elizabeth Hearvy 

(Pembroke) 
Capt Joel Ellis (Mid) 

1755 Elizabeth Wheton 

(Kingston) 
Mrs. Elizabeth 

Howland 
Rebecca Cobb 

1757 Lucy Tillson 
Benjamin Lucas 

1758 Wid. Hannah Fuller 

1759 Lydia Lucas 
Joanna Bridgham 

1761 Sarah Wattis 
Elizabeth Boardman 

1762 Barnabas Lucas 
Mary Hammond 

1763 David Wood 
Rebecca Wood 

1764 Jemima Barrows 
Sabatha Bennett 
Deliverance Churchel 

1765 George Barrow 
Rebecca Doten 
Jemima Shurtleff 
Abel Crocker 

(W. Barnstable) 
Mary Crocker 

(W. Barnstable) 
Issacher Fuller 

(Kingston) 
Elizabeth Fuller 

(Kingston) 
Wid. Elizabeth Shaw 
1767 Hannah Perkins 
1769 Eleazer Robens 



1770 Isaiah Tillson 
Phebe Tillson 
Elizabeth Cole 
Samuel Cobb 
Daniel Faunce 
Capt. Nathaniel Shaw 
Isaac Nye 
Consider Chase 
Eunice Chase 

John Dunham 
Mary Dunham 
Ebenezer Doten 
Mary Doten 
Lydia Cobb 
Lucy Atwood 
Dea. Thomas Savery 
Daniel Vaughan 
Abigail Vaughan 
Elizabeth Vaughan 
Joshua Totman 
Elizabeth Totman 
Timothy Cobb 
Deborah Cobb 
Hannah Dunham 
Lemuel Crocker 
Lucy Shaw 
Ruth Witon 
Frances Shurtleff, 

Esq. 
Abigail Ransom 
Mary Cobb 
Priscilla Robens 
Mary Shaw 
Lydia Wood 

1771 Lydia Lucas 
Deborah Shaw 



CHURCH MEIVIBERS 



309 



1771 Joseph Crocker 
Margaret Crocker 
Sarah Faunce 
(Weymouth) 
Ruby Lucas 
Sarah Barrow 
Sarah Murdock 
John Maxim, Jr. 
Lydia Lucas 
John Lucas 
Elizabeth Atwood 
Ruth Wattins ( ?) 
Thankful Howland 
William Morse 
Lieut. Jonathan 

Tillson 
Abigail Ripley 
Abigail Lucas 
Benjamin Cobb 
Priscilla Witon 
Martha Maxim 
Hannah Shaw 
Elisha Lucas 
Rebecca Lucas 
Isaac Perkins 
jMolly Perkins 

1781 Joshua Benson 
Rebecca Shaw 

1783 John King 

1785 Abigail Crocker 

1786 Dea. Nehemiah Cobb 

1787 John Bennett 
Keziah Bennett 

1789 Asaph Churchill 
Lydia Shaw 
Martha Lucas 



1772 

1773 

1774 
1775 

1777 



1778 
1780 



1792 Patience Pratt 

Capt. Abijah Lucas 

1795 Dea. Isaac S. Lucas 
Eleazer Dunham 
Rhoda Holmes 

1796 Capt. John Sherman 
Abigail Howland 

1800 Benjamin Shurtleff 
Benjamin Ransom 
Hazadia Ransom 

1801 Abial Shurtleff 

(aged 67) 
Huldah Vaughan 
Sarah Barrow 

1802 Betsey Cobb 

1803 Barnabas Shurtleff 
Lemuel Cobb 

(to Plympton) 
Polly Cobb 

(to Plympton) 
Nathan Cobb 

(to Bath) 
Nehemiah Cobb 2nd 

(to Camden, N.Y.) 

1806 Jemima Barrows 
Mary Barrows 

(to Barnstable) 
Deborah Washburn 
Jane Bisbee 

1807 Ebenezer Doten 
Rebecca Doten 
Alvin Cobb 

(to Taunton) 
]\Iehetable Cobb 
(to Taunton) 



310 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



1807 Hannah Vaughan 

(to Taunton) 
James Vaughan 
Lydia Vaughan 
Ebenezer Fuller 
Lieut. Levi Vaughan 
Perez Washburn 
Mary Bumpus 
Mary Maxim 
Sophronia Maxim 
John Maxim, Jr. 
Asaph Washburn 
Mary Washburn 
Lieut. Isaiah Tillson, 

Jr. 
Daniel Vaughan 
Lewis Vaughan 
Lothrop Barrows 
George Barrows 
Frederick Cobb 
Lois Cobb 
Nancy Faunce 
Rebekah Ransom 
Hannah Chase 
Jemima Washburn 
Sophia Washburn 
Melissa Cobb 
Susanna Vaughan 

1808 Sarah Atwood 
Azubah Murdock 
Stephen Shurtleff 
Lydia Shurtleff 
Polly Atwood 
Betsey Shurtleff 
James Savery 
Temperance Perkins 



1809 James Savery 

1811 Lois Lucas 

1812 Hannah Hammond 

1813 Hannah Doten 
Deborah Doten 

(to Plympton) 

1814 Harriet Robins 
Mary Lucas 
Eleanor Lucas 

1815 Wid. Zillah Bradford 
1819 Hannah Waterman 

1821 Sarah Cobb 
Martha Cobb 
Thomas Hammond 

1822 Elizabeth Donham 
Phebe Cobb 
Ebenezer Cobb 

1823 Lucy Shaw 
Bennett Cobb 

(Plympton) 
Mary (his wife, 

Plympton) 
John Adams 
Lucy Cobb (Fred) 

(Plympton) 
Wid. Susanna Cobb 
Ruth Pratt (Isaiah) 
Mary Sherman (Capt. 

Jabez) 
Deborah Cobb 

(Nathan) 
Wid. Sarah Parker 
Jane Cole(Hezekiah) 
Lydia Vaughan 
John Doten 

1824 Joseph Vaughan 



CHURCH ME]VrBERS 



311 



1824 Samuel Lucas 

Jemima Lucas 

Phebe Vaughan (Dea. 
Levi) 

Persis Hammond 
(Thos.) 

Wid. Persis Lucas 

Rebecca Vaughan 

William Veal 

Lucy Doten 

Anna Winslow Ham- 
mond 

Joann Waterman 
(Savery) 

Thomas Cobb, Jr. 

Timothy Cobb 

Thomas Cobb 

Charles Cobb 

Jabez Sherman, Jr. 

Thomas Hammond, 
Jr. 

John Ransom 
(to Plympton) 

Phebe Vaughan 
(James 2nd) 

Eunice Vaughan 
(Brazilla) 

Sarah Shurtleff 
Vaughan (Alvan) 

Matilda Dunham 
(Lucas) 

Sylvia Cobb (Chas.) 

Mary Drew Cobb 

Persis Cobb Ham- 
mond (Reed) 



Mary Hammond 

(Cobb) 
Polly Tillson 
Andrew Sherman 
Henry Dunham 
John Chase 
Sylvia Veal 

(William) 
Patience Robbins 
Hannah Nelson 

Crocker 
Israel Dunham 
Chandler Robbins 

1828 Joseph Robbins, Jr. 
Lucy Sherman 

(Rufus) 

1829 Abigail Robbins 

1830 Louisa L. B. Chase 

(Rev. P.) 
Rebecca Robbins, Jr. 
Jemima Lucas 
Hannah Lucas 
Mary A. Fuller 
Hannah Shurtleff 

1831 ?Mercy Sherman 

Betsey Tillson 
Mercy Bisbee 
1831 Asa Humphrey 
(Weymouth) 
Allen Pratt 
Isaac Vaughan 
Levi Ransom 
Thomas Tillson 
Phebe Ransom 
Waitstill Vaughan 
Hannah Cobb 



312 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



1831 Eunice Vaughan 
Lucy Dunham 
Lydia Crocker 
Stephen Shurtleff 
Sarah B. Washburn 
Jemima D. "Wash- 
burn 

Mrs. Mary W. Gibbs 
Phebe Shurtleff 
Lydia A. Shurtleff 
Ezra Lucas 

(3d Plymouth) 
Anna Lucas 

(3d Plymouth) 

1832 Mary Ann Stetson 
Joseph Sherman 
Consider Robbins 

(to Middleboro) 
Asel Cole 
Winslow Pratt 
Priscilla Pratt 
Lucy Shurtleff 
Ichabod Sampson 
Hannah Morse 

(Sampson) 
Lydia Shaw 

(Hammond) 

1833 Rebecca Shaw 
"Wilson Shaw 
Otis Cobb 
Mercy Cobb 
Ephraim Harlow 
Hannah Harlow 
Rufus Sherman 
Alvan Vaughan 

1834 Benjamin Ransom 



Lucy Ransom 
Levi Sherman 
Lydia Sherman 
William Hammond 
Calista Sherman 

(Andrew) 
Ruth Chandler 

(Zebadee) 

1840 Barnibus Ellis 

(to Plymouth) 
Ruth Morse 

1841 Benjamin Chase 
Keziah Chase 
James B. Tillson 
Anne Maria F, 

Tillson 
Betsey W. Sherman 
Lucinda Cobb 
Deborah Barrows 
Charles A. King 

(to Abington) 
Ruel Atwood 
James Waterman 
Lydia Sherman 
Nehemiah C. 

Hammond 
George W. Hammond 

(to Chelsea) 
Ezra Lucas 
Wilson Barrows 
Mercy Barrows 
Louisa Barrows 
Job C. Chandler 
Nancy S. Chandler 
Alvin C. Harlow 
Deborah Aplin 




MK'S. nuyClLLA JAxXE BAiiKO\V« 



CHURCH MEIVIBERS 



313 



1841 Job Morton 




Deborah Cole 


Polly Vaughan 




Charles H. Chase 


Jerusha C. Cusnman 




Laura Ann Cole 


Samuel Vergin 




Mary T. Cobb 


Melissa C. Vergin 




Almira H. Cobb 


Stillman Ward 




Mary T. Savery 


Mary B. Ward 




Maryett Sherman 


Warren Lucas 




Juliet W. CobD 


Charlotte Lucas 


1855 


William W. Atwood 


Sally B. Pratt 




Lydia M. Hammond 


Elizabeth Barrows 




Solon Cobb 


1842 Jane E. Cobb 




Ralph Copeland 


(to Fall River) 




Nancy Copeland 


1844 Thomas Cushman 


1857 


Fanny D. Barrows 


Pheby Vaughan 


1858 


Wid. Mary Thomas 


Cordelia F. Harlow 




Mary M. Fames 


Anne W. Shaw 




Mrs. Louisa Bent 


(to Abington) 


1859 


Miss Hannah 


1846 Hannah Fuller 




Waterman 


(Ebenezer) 




Mrs. Nancy Bump 


Amanda Waterman 




Rev. William C. 


(James) 




Whitcomb 


Dea. John Freeman 




Mrs. Hannah L. 


Polly C. Freeman 




Whitcomb 


(Dea. John) 




Sara L. Wheeler 


1850 Phebe D. Waterman 


1860 


Ezra Vaughan 


1851 Phebe A. Sherman 




Abby F. Barrows 


Hannah B. Pratt 




Rev. Jonathan King 


(to Middleboro) 




(Abington) 


1853 Ebenezer Fuller, Jr. 




Mrs. Sarah F. King 


Rosette B. Harlow 




(Abington) 



314 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
Members who have joined since 1860 



Annie S. Atwood 
Susan B. Atwood 
Mary H. Barrows 
Edward G. Bradford 
Lois A, Bradford 
Mary P. Bryant 
Marion C. Brett 
Rufus J. Brett 
William L. Brett 
Lucy A. Chandler 
Nancy B. Chandler 
William F. Chandler 
Nellie Chase 
Rev. Solon Cobb 
Theron M. Cole 
Laura Coombs 
Charles F. Cornell 
Hannah H. Dunham 
Harriet A. Dunham 
Andrew R. Eames 
Flora I. Eames 
Luther Eames 
Mabel H. Eames 
Eliza Faunee 
Charles A. Forbes 
Dorothy C. Forbes 
Jennie A. Forbes 
Rev. Washington H. 

Forbes 
Adeline Gardner 
Edgar E. Gardner 
William Hammond 
Fulmer A. Higgins 



Josephine A. James 
Hattie W. King 
Lizzie C. King 
Amelia A. Lincoln 
Rev. Nehemiah Lincoln 
William W. Livingston 
Emma Lucas 
Helen F. McKay 
Cephas Morse 
Mary A. Morse 
Phebe M. Morse 
Susannah Morse 
John C. Owers 
Elmer B. Perkins 
Jonathan B. Perkins 
Olive Perkins 
Anna L. Pink 
Leonard S. Powers 
Lydia C. Powers 
Nancy Pratt 
Hiram L. Rickard 
Lucy W. Rickard 
Christy L. Riggs 
Rev. Ezra J. Riggs 
Ida L. Riggs 
Annie H. Robbins 
Benjamin W. Robbins 
Ethel V. Robbins 
Evelyn F. Robbins 
Jane E. Robbins 
John S. Robbins 
Lizzie A. Robbins 
Lloyd C. Robbins 



CHURCH MEMBERS 



315 



Maurice F. Robbins 
Susie A. Robbins 
William S. Savery 
Charles S. Shaw 
Charles A. Sherman 
Hannah C. Sherman 
Hannah ]\I. Sherman 
Maria C. Sherman 
Nellie W, Sherman 
Sarah A. Sherman 
Addie A. Shurtleff 
Eliza G. Shurtleff 
Lizzie G. Shurtleff 
Mieah G. Shurtleff 



William Shurtleff 
Lottie W. C. Stetson 
Rev. Oscar F. Stetson 
James Tillson 
William Tillson 
Ann Janette Ward 
Clara E. Ward 
Fred A. Ward 
Emma G. Washburn 
Joseph H. Washburn 
Leah M. Whitehead 
Almeda E. Winter 
Cynthia M. Wrightington 
Henry Wrightington 



BAPTIST SOCIETY 

The following, in addition to those otherwise named, 
were connected with the Baptist Society previous to 
1854; dismissals and exclusions not being considered. 



Seth Ames 
Abigail C. At wood 
Betsey Atwood 
Ebenezer Atwood 
Lydia Lucas Atwood 
Lydia Atwood 
Margaret Atwood 
Mary Atwood 
Mary A. Atwood 
Molly Atwood 
Nathaniel Atwood 
Patience Atwood 
Peggy Atwood 
Salmon Atwood 
Sarah L. Atwood 



Waity Atwood 
Waitstill M. Atwood 
Fanny Barrows 
Phebe Barrows 
Ruth Barrows 
Seth Barrows 
Asa Benson 
Betsey Benson 
Constant Benson 
Deborah Benson 
Drucilla Ward Benson 
Ebenezer Benson 
Elisabeth Benson 
John Benson 
John Benson, Jr. 



316 



HISTORY OF CAEVER 



Patience Benson 
Rebecca Benson 
Ebenezer Blossom 
David Bursell 
Elisabeth Bursell 
Chloe Hooks Bumpus 
Abigail Bryant 
Jean Bryant 
Thomas Bradford 
Peter Bosworth 
Sarah Bosworth 
Philip Chamberlain 
Dinah Churchill 
Lydia Cobb 
Mary Cole 
Perez L. Cushing 
Huldah Doten 
Sarah Doten 
John Douglass 
Lydia Douglass 
Barnabas M. Dunham 
Benjamin Dunham 
Betsey Dunham 
Ebenezer Dunham 
Ephraim Dunham 
Ichabod Dunham 
Lydia Dunham 
Mary Dunham 
Mary G. Dunham 
Joseph Dunham 
Priscilla Dunham 
Rebecca Dunham 
Susanna Dunham 
Samuel Dunham 
Alden Faunee 
Daniel Faunee 



Ruth Faunee 
Jairus Gammons 
Mary Gammons 
Rainah Grady 
Mary Griffith 
Eliza A. Hall 
Anne Hart 
Sophe Hart 
Swanzea Hart 
Rowland Hammond 
Benjamin Harlow 
Benjamin Harlow, 2nd 
Lavinia Harlow 
Lydia D. Harlow 
Noah Haskell 
John B. Hatch 
Charity Holmes 
Church Holmes 
Nathaniel Hooks 
William Irwin 
Miriam Keith 
Caleb King 
Nathaniel King 
Abigail LeBaron 
Lazarus LeBaron 
Mary LeBaron 
Sarah LeBaron 
Temperance LeBaron 
Abigail Lucas 
Bethia Lucas 
Ebenezer S. Lucas 
Eleanor Lucas 
Eliza H. Lucas 
Hannah S. Lucas 
Harvey Lucas 
Horatio A. Lucas 



CHURCH MEMBERS 



317 



Martin L. Lucas 

Mary Lucas 

Mary S. Lucas 

Ruth Lucas 

Salla Lucas 

Zillah Lucas 

Alden Manter 

Pardon Manter 

Polly Manter 

Elisha Morton 

Elisabeth Morton 

Lucy Moss 

Theodore Moss 

Abijah Muxham or Maxim 

Basheba Muxham or 

Maxim 
Caleb Muxham or Maxim 
Joseph Muxham or Maxim 
Lydia Muxham or Maxim 
Mehitable Muxham or 

Maxim 
Patience Muxham or 

Maxim 
Phebe Muxham or IMaxim 
Elisabeth J. Nicholls 
James C. Nicholls 
John B. Panis 
Susan Panis 
Anna Parsons 
James Parsons 
Alvin Perkins 
Elisabeth Perkins 
Priscilla (Dunham) 

Perkins 
Ignatius Pierce 
Jesse Pierce 



Joseph Pierce 
Keziah Pierce 
Betsey T. Pratt 
Noah Pratt 
Tillson Pratt 
Benjamin Ransom 
Willis Ransom 
Abigail Robbins 
Consider Robbins 
Joseph Robbins 
Patience Robbins 
Priscilla Robbins 
Elisabeth Sears 
Hannah Sears 
Joseph Sears 
Lucetta Sears 
Ruby Sears 
Abigail Shaw 
Adeline B. Shaw 
Jacob Shaw 
Hannah Shaw 
Hannah Shaw, 2nd 
Harrison Shaw 
Lydia Shaw 
Molly Shaw 
Nathaniel Shaw 
Albert Shurtleff 
Benjamin Shurtleff 
Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff 
Deborah Shurtleff 
Deborah Shurtleff, 2nd 
Ebenezer Shurtleff 
Elisabeth Shurtleff 
Levi Shurtleff 
Lot Shurtleff 
Lucy T. Shurtleff 



318 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Lydia Shurtleff 
]\Iarcy Shurtleff 
Martha Shurtleff 
Mary Shurtleff 
Mary Shurtleff, 2nd 
Priseilla Shurtleff 
Rhoda Shurtleff 
Ruth Shurtleff 
Ruth B. Shurtleff 
William Shurtleff 
Mary A. Soule 
Jonathan Stetson 
Arad Thomas 
Foxwell Thomas 
Martha Thomas 
Moses Thomas 
Susan Thomas 
Hazadiah Vail 
Hannah Vail 
David Vaughan 



Huldah Vaughan 
Olive S. Washburn 
Mary Jane Watson 
Robert Watson 
Benjamin Ward 
Eliab Ward 
Molly Ward 
Priseilla Ward 
Sally Ward 
Dinah Wood 
Agatha Wright 
Caleb Wright 
James Wright 
Mercy Wright 
I\Iolly Wright 
Moses Wright 
Winslow Wright 
Benjamin Wrightington 
David Wrightington 



BAPTIST SOCIETY 
A list of those who have joined since 1856 



George Adams 
Lillian M. Atwood 
P. Jane Barrows 
George E. Blair 
Thomas E. Blanding 
Augustus Boucher 
Sarah E. Bumpus 
Barnard 0. Burbank 
Esther A. Burbank 
C. Frank Case 
Mabel S. Cassidy 



Abbie E. Cole 
Orinna C. Covill 
Anson F. Cornish 
Bernice E. Cornish 
Blanche E. Cornish 
Ellis G. Cornish 
Ellis H. Cornish, M. D. 
Gertrude E. Cornish 
Irene A. Cornish 
Mary A. Cornish 
Nancy L, Cornish 



CHURCH ME]\IBERS 



319 



Paul D. Cornish 
Virginia H. Cornish 
William E. Cornish 
Ada L. Dimond 
Ira C. Dimond 
Maria W. Dimond 
Lottie Dowset 
Annie Ellison 
Joseph Ellison 
Minnie D. Ford 
Lizzie Gammons 
Katherine Goetz 
Betsey J. Gonsalves 
Betsey N. Gould 
Samuel W. Gould 
A. Davis Graffam 
Annie F. Graffam 
James I\I. Jefferson 
Abbie A. Johnson 
Abby Leach 
Albert Leach 
L. Georgie Leaming 
Marion W. Lewis 
Jennie IM. Lincoln 
George E. Lockliart 
George H. Lockhart 
Lorena Lockhart 
Herbert Lockhart 
]\Iargaret Lockhart 
"Wilfred B. Loring 
E. Allen Lucas 
Eleanor Lucas 
Eleanor Lucas 
Henry E. Lucas 
Helen Lucas 
Lot S. Lucas 



Maria E. Lucas 
Mary R. Lucas 
Mabel IMcFarlin 
Cordelia Metcalf 
Lillian F. IMoranville 
Russell T. Morse 
Ann E. Nye 
Lucy Nye 
Joshua F. Packard 
Susie D. Packard 
Abbie F. Pearson 
Abbie J. Peckham 
Annie G. Peckham 
Annie H. Peckham 
Henry M. Peckliam 
Mabel I. Peckliam 
Alma ]M. Pratt 
Adelbert P. Robbins 
Grace I. Robbins 
Mary E. Robbins 
Rebecca L. Robbins 
Rosina F. Robbins 
Susan Robbins 
Eugene E. Shaw 
E. Watson Shaw 
]\Iary Shaw 
Mary A. Shaw 
Cordelia F. Shurtleff 
Benjamin L. Shurtleff 
Eliza B. Shurtleff 
Geneva E. Shurtleff 
Lula Shurtleff 
Oliver L. Shurtleff 
Perez T. Shurtleff 
Lizzie Swan 
]\Iinnie D. Swan 



320 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Ponsonby M. Swan 
Estella M. Sweezey 
James J. Tobey 
Mary A. Tobey 
Mary E. Thomas 
Bertha F. Vaughan 
Christina C. Vaughan 
Desire A. Vaughan 
Edwin A. Vaughan 
James A. Vaughan 



Blanche E. Vinal 
Cora E. Vinal 
Mrs. E. Vinal 
H. Y. Vinal 
Simeon L. Whidden 
Eva L. White 
George E. White 
Helen E. Wliite 
Lillian F. Wood 



METHODIST CHURCH 
Members under its different forms 



Reformed Methodist 



Mary Atwood* 
Sumner Atwood * 
Alice Bumpus 
Edward P. Bumpus 
Sullivan Gammons 
Patience Maxim 
Susan A. JMaxim* 



Thomas Maxim* 
Thomas Maxim, Jr.* 
Anna Ryder* 
Charles Ryder 
Ichabod Shurtleff* 
Sylvia Shurtleff* 



Metliodist 
Lucinda Andrews* 
Clio Atwood* 
Harriet Atwood 

(McFarlin)* 
Joanna Atwood 
Levi Atwood 
Lydia Atwood* 
Rebecca Atwood 



Protestant 
Shadrach F. Atwood* 
Fidelia Harlow (Bates)* 
Margaret Bates* 
James H. Bosworth 
Susan Bosworth 
Betsey Bumpus* 
Daniel Bumpus 
Daniel Bumpus, Jr. 



♦Transferred to M. E, Church Aug. 9, 1867. 




ELLIS IL CORNISH, M. D. 



CHURCH MEMBERS 



321 



Daniel Bumpus, 2iid 
Dorcas Biimpus 
Edward Bumpus 
Edmund P. Bumpus 
Marcus Bumpus 
Moses Bumpus 
Silas G. Bumpus 
Susan Bumpus 
Matthew H. Gushing 
Polly Gushing 
Susannah Gushman 
Ebenezer Dunham* 
Elisha M. Dunham* 
Ruth F. Dunham* 
IMary Ellis 
Abigail Hathaway 
Galen Humphrey 
Benjamin Jefferson* 
Aaron B. Knott 
Sally Knott 
Barney Lucas 
Susan Look 
Almira Maxim* 
Ansel B. Maxim 
Elisabeth Maxim 
Ellis Maxim 
Huldah McFarlin* 



Jason B. McFarlin* 
John Murray Maxim 
Joseph T. McFarlin* 
Mary Maxim 
Patience Maxim 
Rebecca McFarlin* 
Sarah Maxim* 
Seth S. Maxim* 
Watson T. Maxim* 
William S. :McFarlin* 
Wilson McFarlin 
Glara Nixon* 
Ichabod Shurtleff, 2nd 
Lucy Shurtleff 
Luther Shurtleff 
Martha Shurtleff 
Mercy Shurtleff 
Gintia Tillson 
Joanna Tillson 
Louisa Tillson 
Rebecca Tillson* 
Henry G. Washburn* 
Joanna Washburn 
Louisa Washburn* 
Marshall Washburn 
Ephraim G. Westgate . 
Benjamin Wrightington 



Ida F. Andrews 
Sarah F. Andrews 
Z. W. Andrews 
Abbie F. At wood 



Methodist Episcopal Church 

Angle F. Atwood 
Charles H. Atwood 
Eliza A. Atwood 
Emma Atwood 



*Transferred to M. E. Church Aug. 9, 1867. 



322 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Flora Atwood 
Frances N. Atwood 
George W. Atwood 
Gilbert W. Atwood 
Grace D. Atwood 
Ida F. Atwood 
Josephine Atwood 
Lottie Atwood 
Lucy Atwood 
Mabel L. Atwood 
Mercy J. Atwood 
Susan Atwood 
Carrie E. Babcock 
Grace L. Babcock 
Benoni T. Baker 
Charles E. Baker 
Edward E. Baker 
Everett B. Baker 
Lillian V. Baker 
Minnie M. Baker 
Irene Bates 
Martha A. Bates 
Henrietta Besse 
Fannie S. Blanding 
Jennie Burgess 
Ella Bumpus 
Mrs. H. W. Bumpus 
Lucy H. Bumpus 
Martha Bumpus 
Moses Bumpus 
Martha Douglass 
Nancy Douglass 
Ebenezer Dunham, Jr. 
Irving Dunham 
Julia A. Dunham 
Mary Dunham 



Silvester Dunlap 
Nancy C. Fish 
Dora F. Gammons 
Henry H. Gammons 
Minnie Garvin 
Benjamin F. Harlow 
Lydia D. Harlow 
Herbert H. Hayden 
Rosa C. Hayden 
Sophronia Hobill 
Patience Howard 
James S. Hudson 
Julia Hudson 
Emily F. Hunt 
William Hurd 
Carrie Jefferson 
Madison Jefferson 
Ellen Long 
Gustavus H. Long 
Susie Lavender 
Hattie Manter 
Sylvia E. Manter 
Sarah Maxim 
Susan Maxim 
Alberta M. McFarlin 
Cora McFarlin 
Elvira S. McFarlin 
John B. McFarlin 
Martha McFarlin 
Medella McFarlin 
Susan A. McFarlin 
Veretta McFarlin 
Nellie A. Miller 
William Miller 
John P. Morse 
Clara Nixon 



CHURCH MEMBERS 



323 



Sophia Penno 
Charles C. Perkins 
Flora Perkins 
Grace Perkins 
Rosa Ryder 
Ella A. Sears 
Orrin B. Sears 
Adaleita Shaw 
Melora Shaw 
Charles L. Sherman 
Mary E. Sherman 
Chloe Shurtleff 
lehabod S. Shurtleff 
Lizzie L. Smith 
Emma H. Souther 
Mary Stanly 
W. Frank Stanly 



Henry Storms 
Adeline M. Tabor 
Augusta C. Thomas 
Herbert I. Thomas 
Mary Thomas 
Thompson P. Thomas 
Mary E. Washburn 
Nathan H. Washburn 
Samuel D. Washburn 
Sarah W. Washburn 
Virginia H. Washburn 
George H. Westgate 
Charles Weddling 
Hilma Williams 
Mary A. Williams 
Hattie T. Wright 



UNION SOCIETY 



Frederick Anderson 
Albert F. Atwood 
Delia Atwood 
Isette G. Atwood 
Josiah W. Atwood 
Lucius Atwood 
Marcus Atwood 
Stephen D. Atwood 
Susan F. A.twood 
Laura A. Austin 
Hugh R. Bailey 
Mary Bailey 
Eleanor Barrows 
Elizabeth J. Barrows 
Ellen B. Barrows 
Olive M. Barrows 



Thomas B. Barrows 
William N. Barrows 
John L. Benson 
Kate A. Benson 
Irene A. Bent 
John Bent 
Eliza A. Bowers 
J. Myrick Bump 
Laura H. Bump 
Lucinda Bump 
A. Freeman Cornish 
Wilhelmina L. Cornish 
Gamaliel Gushing 
Betsey B. Gibbs 
Thomas Gibbs 
Thomas F. Gibbs 



324 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Sadie F. Gibbs 
Alonzo D. Griffith 
Henry S. Griffith 
Helen A. Griffith 
Orville K. Griffith 
Mabel Griffith 
Martha M. Griffith 
Hannah C. Hawkes 
Harry 0. Hawkes 
Donald Barrows Ingham 
Katherine Barrows 

Ingham 
Walter T. Jefferson 
Mary P. S; Jowitt 
George E. Macllwain 
Donald McFarlin 
Anne R. McFarlin 
Eldoretta T. McFarlin 
Helena McFarlin 
Isadore L. McFarlin 
Sarah F. McFarlin 
Veretta McFarlin 
Rose Morris 
E. Herman Murdock 
Susan A. Murdock 
Hannah P. Richards 



Rufus L. Richards 
Lawrence M. Rogers 
Mary C. Rogers 
James J. Ryan 
Anna B. Savery 
Ethel Savery 
Harriet D. Savery 
S. Louise Savery 
Alfred M. Shaw 
Alice G. Shaw 
John F. Shaw 
Nancy A. Shaw 
Lulu Shurtleff 
Lucy A. Southworth 
Thomas M. Southworth 
Lester W. Swift 
Nehemiah G. Swift 
Sarah J. Swift 
Chester F. Tillson 
Deborah Tillson 
Reba B. Tillson 
Wilfred A. Tillson 
George W. Van Schaack 
Daisy Vaughan 
Elva H. Washburn 
Harriet D. Winberg 



ADVENT SOCIETY 

Those who joined in 1870 

Elial Benson Sarah A. Hammond 

Harriett Benson Abigail S. Hatch 

James Breach John B. Hatch 

Lucy Chase Lucy P. Hathaway 

Sally T. Dunham William E. Hathaway 

Betsey S. Hammond I. I. Leslie 



CHURCH MEIVIBERS 



325 



John Maxim 

Lucinda E. Morse 

Winslow Pratt 

Levi Ransom 

Louisa Ransom 

Lucy Ransom 

Nathaniel :\L Ransom, M.D. 

Atwood Shaw 

Those who have 

Sally Benson 
Francelia F. Boynton 
J. R. Boynton 
Solon R. Boynton 
"W. Otis Boynton 
"William Breach 
George Burnham 
John A. Coad 
Nancy L. Cornish 
Jesse P. Douglass 
Maria F. Douglass 
Almira C. Dowsett 
Harriett A. Dunham 
Luella Dunham 
Huth Dunham 
Rose Garnett 
Burt J. Glazier 
Elmer D. Glazier 
I. Christine Glazier 
Lettie L. Glazier 
Benjamin Hammond 
Julia F. Hammond 
Anna G. Hatch 
Sarah F. King 
Emma L. Lewis 
Katy H. Lewis 



Chloe S. Shaw 
INIary A. Shaw 
Lydia D. Sherman 
Eunice Vaughan 
Waitstill Vaughan 
W. E. H. Vaughan 
Abby W. Wade 



joined since 1870 

Mary Eva Lewis 

Anna R. Loveland 

Samuel ]\IcHenry 

Emma F. Merritt 

George F. Morse, M. D. 

Daniel W. Nash 

George Newhall 

Jesse M. Northern 

Lydia F. Northern 

Arthur C. Perkins 

Elmer B. Perkins 

Catherine L. Pratt 

Sarah L. Ransom 

Polly Reed 

Rebecca L. Robbins 

Lorenzo N. Shaw 
Percy W. Shurtleff 
Austin N. Vaughan 
Charles E. Vaughan 
J, Erville Vaughan 
Julia F. Vaughan 
Minnie M. Vaughan 
Webster E. C. Vaughan 
William E. W. Vaughan 
Esther A. Wade 
Henry W. Wade 



326 HISTORY OF CAEVER 

STATE AND COUNTY OFFICERS 

A list of those who have served in a state or county 
office since the Town was incorporated. 

In the Governor's Council 
Hon. Jesse Murdock 1847, 48 

hi Constitutional Conventions 
Benjamin Ellis 1820 

Joseph Barrows 1853 

County Commissioner 
Thomas Southworth 1858—60 

State Senate 

Hon. Benjamin Ellis 1825, 32 

Hon. Jesse Murdock 1844, 45 

Hon. Matthias Ellis 1854 

Hon. Peleg McFarlin 1882—84 

Representatives in General Court 
Frances Shurtleff 1791, 1802 

Capt. Nathaniel Sherman 1800 

Capt. William Atwood 1806 

Benjamin Ellis 1810—12, 16, 20, 21, 29, 30 



John Savery 


1827, 28, 42, 47 


Lewis Pratt 


1831 


Thomas Cobb 


1832 


Benjamin Ransom 


1833 


Jesse Murdock 


1834—37, 47 


Joseph Barrows 


1838, 39 


Timothy Cobb 


1840, 48 


Henry Sherman 


1842 


William S. Savery 


1844 


Matthias Ellis 


1850, 51 



TOWN OFFICERS 327 

Capt. Benjamin Ransom 1852 

George P. Bowers 1854 

James B. Tillson 1855 

Rufus C. Freeman 1858 

Ralph Copeland 1860 

Elisha M. Dunham 1866 

Thomas B. Griffith 1869 

Horatio A. Lucas 1873 

William Savery 1879 

Peleg McFarlin 1881 

Benjamin W. Robbing 1882 

Gustavus Atwood 1896 

Eugene E. Shaw 1908 



328 HISTORY OF CARVER 

TOWN OFFICEES 
TOWN CLERKS 



Nehemiah Cobb 


1790 


Samuel Lucas, 3d 


1791 


Samuel Lucas, Jr. 


1792 


Nehemiah Cobb 


1793—98 


Barnabas Cobb . 


L799— 1801 


Ephraim Pratt 


1802—10 


Stephen Shurtleff 


1811—13 


Samuel Shaw 


1814—27 


Dr. Samuel Shaw 


1828 


Samuel Shaw 


1829 


Isaac Vaughan 


1829 


Isaac Vaughan 


1830 36 


Isaac Vaughan 


1837 


John Savery 


1837 


Isaac Vaughan 


1838—41 


David Pratt 


1842 45 


Thomas Vaughan 


1846—58 


Ansel B. Maxim 


1859—63 


Ansel B. Maxim 


1864 


Thomas Vaughan 


1864 


Thomas M. Southworth 


1865, 66 


William Hammond 


1867 69 


Nelson Barrows 


1870, 71 


Peleg McFarlin 


1872—78 


Albert T. Shurtleff 


1879—92 


Henry S. Griffith 


1893— 


TOWN TREASURERS 




Frances Shurtleff 


1790—93 


Frances Shurtleff 


1794 


Lothrop Shurtleff 


1794 


Samuel Lucas 


1794 



TOWN OFFICERS 



329 



Samuel Lucas 
Benjamin Shurtleff 
Samuel Lucas 
Thomas Hammond 
Lieut. Samuel Shaw 
Samuel Shaw 
Lewis Vaughan 
Jonathan Atwood 
Thomas Hammond 
Ira Murdoek 
Thomas Hammond 
Jonathan Atwood 
Jonathan Atwood 
Isaac Vaughan 
Jonathan Atwood 
Huit McFarlin 
David Pratt 
Isaac Vaughan 
John Bent 
Thomas Cobb 
Andrew Griffith 
Andrew Griffith 
James A. Vaughan 
James A. Vaughan 
Henry S. Griffith 



1795—1801 

1802, 03 

1804—09 

1810 

1811, 12 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1816—24 

1825 

1826 

1826 

1827, 28 

1829—33 

1834, 35 

1836—41 

1842—51 

1852 

1853—61 

1862—82 

1883-91 

1892 

1892 

1893—1904 

1905— 



TAX COLLECTORS 

Jonathan Tillson, Caleb Atwood 1790 

Jonathan Tillson, Consider Chase 1791 

Consider Chase, Abial Shurtleff 1792 

Benjamin Cobb, Perez "Washburn 1793 
Nathaniel Atwood, Jr., Consider Chase 1794 

Nathaniel Vaughan, Consider Chase 1795 

Consider Chase, Nathaniel Atwood 1796, 97 

Ebenezer Doten, Consider Chase 1798 



330 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Ebenezer Doten 1799 

Lieut. Gideon Shurtleff, Consider Chase 1800 

Ebenezer Doten, Levi Chase . 1801 
Ebenezer Doten 1802—07 

Nehemiah Cobb, Seth Barrows 1808 

Lieut. Isaiah Tillson, Asaph Washburn 1809 

Barnabas Shurtleff, Nathaniel Atwood 1810 

Levi Vaughan, Nathaniel Atwood 1811 

Stephen Shurtleff 1812 

Jabez Maxim 1813 

Hezekiah Cole, Capt. Elisha Murdock 1814 

Hezekiah Cole, Lieut. Luke Perkins 1815 

Capt. Elisha Murdock 1816 

John Sherman, Nathaniel Atwood 1817 

Levi Vaughan, Samuel Shaw 1818 

Joseph Robbins 1819 

Hezekiah Cole, Jacob T. Perkins 1820 

Capt. Gideon Shurtleff 1821 

Jesse Murdock 1822 

Ephraim Harlow, Ebenezer Dunham 1823 
Samuel Shaw 1824, 25 

Ephraim Harlow, Elisha Murdock 1826 

Hezekiah Cole, Barnabas M. Dunham 1827 
The Treasurer 1828—1912 

SELECTMEN 

Those who have served on the Board of Selectmen, 
with years of service "^ 

Asaph Atwood 1818—22 

Ensign Caleb Atwood 1809 

Gustavus Atwood 1879 — 81 

Jonathan Atwood 1816, 17, 29, 30 

S. Dexter Atwood 1907—10 

Capt. William Atwood 1790—92, 97, 1803, 04 
Charles Barrows 1841 — 44 



TOWN OFFICERS 



331 



Joseph Barrows 

1829, 30, 35—37, 45, 46, 52—54, 63 



William Barrows 
John Bent 
Fred Cobb 
Nehemiah Cobb 
Thomas Cobb 
Thomas Cobb 
Timothy Cobb 
Elmer B. Cole 
Hezekiah Cole 
Ellis G. Cornish 
Capt. Cornelius Dunham 
Benjamin Ellis 
Seth C. C. Finney 
Andrew Griffith 
Thomas B. Griffith 
Thomas Hammond 
Thomas Hammond 
John A. Kenney 
Capt. Abijah Lucas 
Eben S. Lucas 
Horatio A. Lucas 
Samuel Lucas, Jr. 
Huit McFarlin 
Bartlett Murdock, Jr. 
Bartlett Murdock 
Capt. Elisha Murdock 
Jesse Murdock 
Alvin Perkins 
Stewart H. Pink 
David Pratt 
Lewis Pratt 
Benjamin Ransom 
Charles Ryder 
John Savery 



1834, 35, 46 

1835, 36 

1852—54, 65—69, 79—81 

1799. 1800 

1817, 19, 20—27 

1851 

1836, 37, 40—42, 47—50 

1888 

1812—15. 18 

1911—13 

1810, 11 

1806, 07, 12 

1886, 87, 98—1905, 12, 13 

1864^79, 82—92 

1860—62 

1806, 07 

1838, 39 

1906, 07 

1799—1809 

1870, 71 

1855, 61, 72—81 

1790, 93. 96, 98 

1820, 21 

1793, 94 

1816 

1805 

1813—15, 18, 19 

1859—64, 68—74 

1908 

1831—34 

1827—29 

1830, 31, 38, 39, 58—60 

1840—42 

1826—28 



332 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Peleg Savery 1808 

Dea. Thomas Savery 1790—92 

William S. Savery 1843, 44 

Daniel Shaw 1837, 45—51 

David Shaw 1838 

Eben D. Shaw 1875—78 

Joseph Shaw 1823—25, 31—33 

Capt. Samuel Shaw 1828 

Henry Sherman 1839, 40, 45 

Capt. John Sherman 1793, 94 

Levi Sherman 1832—34 

Capt. Nathaniel Sherman 1795—98, 1809 

Nelson Sherman 1882—85 

Albert T. Shurtleff 1882—89 
Benjamin Shurtleff 

1791, 92, 94—96, 99, 1800—02 

Capt. Gideon Slmrtleff 1805, 10—15 

Samuel A. Shurtleff 1847, 48 

Thomas Southworth 1849—51, 55—58 

Herbert A. Stanley 1911—13 

Edward Stephens 1803, 04 

Truman B. Tillson 1859 

Wilfred A. Tillson 1893—1906 

James Vaughan 1808, 10. 11. 16, 17 

Theodore T. Vaughan 1890—1910 

Thomas Vaughan 1852—58, 62—67 

Capt. Benjamin Ward 1797, 98 

Benjamin Ward 1822—26 

Eliab Ward 1843, 44 
Fred A. Ward 1889—97, 1901, 09, 10, 11 

Stillman Ward 1856, 57 

Benjamin Wliite 1801. 02 



TOWN OFFICERS 333 

SCHOOL COIOnTTEE 

Those who have served, with years of service. Begin- 
ning with 1827 a board of three has been elected 
with the exception of 1872, when the number was 
increased to six. 

Gustavus Atwood 1878, 84—86, 88—1901, 04 

Mrs. Bernice E. Barrows 1897—99 

Charles Barrows, Jr. 1840 

E. W. Barrows 1865 

Horatio Barrows 1849 

James Barrows 1844 

Joseph Barrows 1832, 33 

Dr. William Barrows 1832—37, 45, 46 

Mrs. Rebecca W. Benson 1888—94 

Mrs. Irene A. Bent 1884—88 

John Bent 1860 

Ezra Brett 1853 

Rufus J. Brett 1872 

Dr. Charles S. Bumpus 1849, 51, 53, 54 

Henry L. Chase 1864, 65 ■■ 

Rev. Plummer Chase 1829—31 

Nathaniel Coggswell 1855, 56 

Mrs. Nellie M. Cole 1879—81 

Ellis G. Cornish 1910— 
Dr. Ellis H. Cornish 1868, 82—84, 88—90 

Nathaniel S. Cushing 1858—60 

Robert M. Dempsey 1872 

Elisha M. Dunham 1855. 56, 60—62 

Matthias Ellis 1847, 48. 50, 51 

Seth C. C. Finney 1900—04 
Rufus C. Freeman 1867—69, 74, 75, 80—82 

Ezra Fuller 1838, 44 

Samuel Glover 1839 

Henry S. Griffith 1887, 1901—03 

Nehemiah C. Hammond 1842, 43 



334 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Thomas Hammond 1863 

S. Freedom Jenkins 1858, 59 

John A. Kenney 1902 

Rev. Jonathan King 1839, 41—43 

Rev. William Leach 1866—69 

Rev. Nehemiah Lincoln 1889—91 
Ebenezer S. Lucas 1853, 79, 81—83, 94—96 

Ansel B. Maxim 1863, 64 

Peleg McFarlin 1873—75 

Solomon F. McFarlin 1855—57, 70—74 

Ira Murdock 1827 

Robert B. Pearson 1871, 72 

Charles C. Perkins 1905— 

Elmer B. Perkins 1896—1900 
David Pratt 

1827—31, 33, 36—39, 46, 47, 51, 52 

Ephraim T. Pratt 1849, 50, 54 
E. Tillson Pratt 1858, 59, 61—64, 70—73 

Joseph Pratt 1836—38, 40 

Miles Pratt 1848 

Stillman Pratt 1852 

Nathaniel M. Ransom 1854, 57, 65, 66 

Charles Ryder 1852 

John Savery 1831, 34, 35 

William Savery 1857, 61, 62 

Mrs. Alice G. Shaw 1905— 

Eben D. Shaw 1872 

Dr. Samuel Shaw 1827—29 

William M. Shaw • 1905—09 

Benjamin Shurtleff 1844, 45, 47 

Miss Flora M. Shurtleff 1885—87 

George A. Shurtleff 1841—43 

Samuel A. Shurtleff 1840, 41, 48 

Thomas M. Southworth 1876—78 

Ezra Tliompson 1830 

Charles Threshie 1869, 70 



TOWN OFFICERS 335 

Augustus F. Tillson 1875—77 

Rev. J. J. Tobey 1891—93 

Isaac Vaug-han 1828, 32, 34, 35 

James A. Vaughan 1878—80, 1903, 04 

Thomas Vaughan 1850 

Ansel B. Ward 1876, 77 

Eliab Ward, Jr. 1845, 46 

G. F. Wood 1866, 67 



ASSESSORS 

Those who have served on the board, with years of 
service. From 1845 to 1893 and from 1896 to 1910 
the Selectmen were also chosen Assessors. 

Ensign Caleb Atwood 1794, 96 

John Atwood 1818, 19 
Jonathan Atwood 

1811—14, 16, 17, 20—24, 28, 29, 30 

Lucius Atwood 1894, 95 

S. Dexter Atwood 1911— 

William Atwood 1836 

Frank E. Barrows 1911 — 

Joseph Barrows 1828—30, 34, 35, 43, 44 

John Bent 1894, 95 

Barnabas Cobb 1790—95, 97, 99 

Nehemiah Cobb 1791, 93, 94, 1800, 01, 09 

Timothy Cobb 1839—42 

Hezekiah Cole 1815 
Ebenezer Doten 1802—07, 09, 10, 14, 16, 17 

Edward Doten 1808 

Benjamin Ellis 1805—07 

Thomas Hammond 1802—07, 09 

Thomas Hammond 1837, 38 

Capt. Ichabod Leonard 1897, 98 

Samuel Lucas. Jr. 1790, 92 



336 HISTORY OF CARVER 

Samuel Lucas 1795, 96, 98, 99, 1800—04, 17 
Huit McFarlin 1808, 10—13, 18, 19, 33 

Bartlett Murdock, Jr. 1792 



Ira Murdock 




1816, 25—27 


Jesse Murdock 






1815 


Alvin Perkins 


# 




1837—43 


Luke Perkins 






1808 


David Pratt 




1820, 


21, 31, 32 


Lewis Pratt 






1825—27 


Benjamin Ransom 






1831—38 


Thomas Savery 






1814 


DaA^d Shaw 






1835 


Daniel Shaw 






1836 


Eugene E. Shaw 






1894, 95 


Anthony Sherman 






1844 


Levi Sherman 






1825—27 


Capt. Nathaniel Sherman 




1796 


Albert Shurtleff 






1834 


David Shurtleff 






1833 


Gideon Shurtleff 






1815 


Lot Shurtleff 




1820, 


21, 31, 32 


Stephen Shurtleff 




1810- 


-13, 22—24 


Isaac Vaughan 






1839 


Levi Vaughan 


1818, 19, 22- 


-24, 28, 30 


Theodore T. Vaughan 






1912— 


Thomas Vaughan 






1840—44 


Fred A. Ward 






1911 


Benjamin White 








1790, 91, 


93, 95, 


97—99, 1800, 01 


OVERSEERS OF 


POOR 




1838 







Samuel Shaw Benjamin Ransom 

Thomas Hammond 



TOWN OFFICERS 337 

1845 

Lot Shurtleff John Bent 

Ebenezer Atwood 

1852 
Benjamin Chase Albert Shurtleff 

Henry Sherman 

1856 
Thomas Cobb Eliab Ward 

Paine M. C. Jones . '' 

1857—1912 
Selectmen. 

TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY 

J. Myrick Bump 1910— 

Seth C. C. Finney 1896— 

Henry S. Griffith 1895— 

Eugene E. Shaw 1907—09 

Nelson Sherman 1895 

Albert T. Shurtleff 1895—1901 

• Rev. Oscar F. Stetson 1902—05 

ROAD COMMISSIONERS 

Following an early custom the roads were re- 
paired and built by surveyors elected or appointed 
by Districts at the annual town meeting until 1889 
when an optional law was accepted and the roads 
were placed under the management of a board of 
three Commissioners. In 1893 this system was 
abolished leaving the roads in the hands of the 
Selectmen with a superintendent as their agent. 
A change was made again in 1899 when the town 
returned to the Road Commissioner system. 



338 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



ROAD COMMISSIONERS 
"With Years of Service 



Zephaniah W. Andrews 
John E. At wood 
Henry T. Hammond 
Levi F. Morse 
E. Herman Murdock 
Benjamin Robbins 
Frederick W. Shaw 
Ichabod S. Shurtleff 
Oliver L. Shurtleff 
William F. Stanley 
Frank F. Tillson 



1892, 



1889—91, 



1904— 
1910— 
1889—91 
1902— 
1902—09 
99, 1900, 01 
1892 
1889—91 
99, 1900, 01 
1892 
1899—1903 



SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS 
E. Herman Murdock 1893—99 



INDEX OF NAMES 



INDEX OF NAMES 



With few exceptions simple names are indexed regard- 
less of title or suffix 



Atwood, Abbie F., 321 
Abigail C, 315 
Abner, 167 

Albert F., 162, 207, 323 
Allen S., 232, 236 
Angie F., 321 
Annie S., 314 
Arthur C, 262 
Asaph, 132, 146, 167, 330 
Barnabas, 294, 298, 307 
Betsey, 213, 315 
Caleb, 61, 103, 105, 138, 

148, 167, 202, 330, 335 
Charles, 238 
Charles H., 321 
Clio, 320 
Delia, 263, 323 
Ebenezer, 173, 202, 315, 337 
Ebenezer E., 234 
Eli, 127, 131, 132 
Eli, Jr., 234 
Elisabeth, 309 
Eliza A., 321 
Emma, 321 
Flora, 322 
Frances N., 322 
Frederick, 238 
George W., 150, 189, 322 
Gilbert W., 322 
Grace D., 322 

Gustavus, 249, 327, 330, 333 
Hannah, 280 
Hannah W., 162 
Harriet, 161 
Herbert F., 262 
Ichabod, 108 
Ida F., 322 
Isaiah F., 235 
Isette G., 323 
Jason, 161 



Atwood, Joanna, 320 

John, 22, 103, 131, 167, 168, 

335 
John E., 262, 338 
Jonathan, 131, 145, 146, 

158, 159, 167, 329, 330, 

335 
Joseph, 102, 131, 167, 188, 

228 
Josiah E., 236 
Josiah W., 189, 190, 234, 

249, 323 
Josephine, 322 
Joshua, 132, 168 
Lazarus, 167 
Levi, 105, 167, 320 
Lillian M., 318 
Lottie, 322 

Lucius, 189, 190, 323, 335 
Luther, 132, 219 
Lucy, 308, 322 
Lydia, 161, 315, 320 
Lydia Lucas, 315 
Mabel L., 322 
Marcus, 188, 190, 249, 323 
Margaret, 315 
Mary, 175, 315, 320 
Mary A., 315 
Melissa, 161 
Mercv J., 322 
Miranda, 189, 281 
Mollv, 315 
Nathaniel, 61,102, 125, 131, 

138, 164, 165, 168, 199, 

200, 253, 257, 298, 300, 

307, 315, 329, 330 
Oren, 189, 226 
Patience, 315 
Feggy, 315 
Polly, 279, 310 



341 



342 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Atwood, Rebecca, 320 

Euel, 303, 312 

Salmon, 213, 315 

Samuel, 131, 167 

Samuel, Jr., 167 

Samuel S., 228 

Sarah, 310 

Sarah L., 315 

Shadrach F., 320 

Stephen, 108, 167, 188 

S. Dexter, 190, 249, 323, 
330, 335 

Stephen T., 234 

Sumner, 175, 176, 320 

Susan, 322 

Susan B., 314 

Susan F., 323 

Thomas, 236 

Tillson, 261 

Waitstill M., 315 

Waity, 315 

William, 100, 102, 137, 148, 
163, 167, 168, 258, 326, 
330, 335 

William W., 303, 313 
Atwood Brook, 3 
Atwood Eebellion, 258 
Abbot, Elder Samuel, 166, 167 
Adams, Amanda J. 162 

Amos, 243 

George, 318 

John, 310 

Thomas, 157 
Advent chapel, 182 
Agawam, 21 
Agriculture, 251 
Almshouse burned, 147 
American Game P. & P. Assn., 

264 
Ames, Seth, 315 
Andrews, Ida F., 321 

Lucinda, 320 

Eobert W., 228, 260 

Sarah F., 321 

Z. W., 162, 207, 321, 338 
Annasnapet, 17 
Anthony, Hannah D., 288 
Anderson, Frederick, 207, 263, 
323 

Philip, 239 
Appling, Deborah, 312 

John, 109, 168 
Armory, 227 



Austin, Laura A., 263, 323 
Avery, Edward, 206 
Nathan, 176 



Babcoek, Carrie E., 322 

Rev. Edwin G., 179 

Grace L., 322 
Baehus, Elder Isaac, 165 
Bailey, Ellen, 276 

H. R., 323 

Mary, 323 
Baker, Benoni T., 322 

Charles E., 322 

Edward E., 322 

Everett B., 322 

Lillian V., 322 

Minnie M., 322 
Baptists, 75, 125, 163, 185 

Kingston, 259 

Meetings, 170 

Ministers, 171 

Plympton, 259 
Barker, Rev. Joseph, 77 

Rev. Nathaniel, 120 
Barnes, Anne, 307 

John, 22, 109 

Jonathan, 22 
Barnes' Mill, 267 
Barrows, Abby F., 313 

Abner, 105 

Andrew, 107, 297, 298 

Arad, 275 

Asa, 107, 225, 268 

Benjamin, 109, 199 

Bernice E., 333 

Carver, 108, 131, 139, 168 

Charles, 296, 298, 303, 330, 
333 

Deborah, 312 

Eleanor, 263, 323 

Elisabeth, 313 

Elisabeth, J., 263, 323 

Ellen B., 323 

Ephraim, 108 

Rev. E. W., 177, 179, 187^ 
333 

Fanuy, 315 

Fanny D., 313 

Frank E., iii, 243, 262, 263^ 
335 

Gideon, 295 



INDEX OF NAMES 



343 



Barrows, George, 61, 131, 196, 

248, 257, 293, 297, 298, 
307, 308 

Horatio, 333 

James, 333 

Jemina, 308, 309 

John, 22 

Jonathan, 102, 104, 249 

Joseph, 97, 102, 104, 121, 

131, 132, 158, 188, 189, 

190, 199, 215, 258, 261, 

326 
Lothrop, 80, 213, 226, 298, 

300, 303, 310 
Louisa, 312 
Malachi, 108, 109 
Mary, 309 
Mary H., 314 
Mercy, 312 

Moses, 108, 295, 298, 307 
Nelson, 126, 132, 186, 189, 

328 
Olive M., 323 
Peleg, 107, 121, 131, 199, 

295, 298, 306 
Peleg, Jr., 131 
Pelham W., 228, 234, 285 
Phebe, 315 
Priscilla Jane, 145, 162, 

249, 262, 285, 318 
Euth, 315 
Samuel, 297, 307 
Samuel B., 236 
Sarah, 309 

Seth, 131, 165, 168, 315, 
330 

Simeon, 104 

Simeon H., 228 

Simmons, 102, 131 

Thomas, 131, 201, 202, 296 

Thomas B., 323 

William, 105, 243, 302, 331, 
333 

William H., 237, 281 

William N., 276, 323 

Wilson, 312 
Barrows homestead, 62 
Barter, 200 
Bartlett, John, 108 

Joseph, 22 

Sylvanus, 97, 103 
Bates, David, 176 

David M., 190, 228 



Bates, Mrs. D. M., 162 

Fidelia, 320 

George E., 232, 236 

Irene, 322 

James H., 233 

John, 109 

Margaret, 320 

Martha A., 322 

N. Byron, 234 
Bay State' hall, 128, 160 
Bay State Light Inf't'y, 227 
Beavers, 5 
Bemis, 285 
Bennett, Charles H., 228 

John, 75, 309 

Keziah, 309 

Nehemiah, 307 

Sabatha, 308 

Stephen, 202 
Benson, Asa, 315 

Benjamin, 102 

Betsey, 315 

Caleb, 171, 202 

Constant, 315 

Deborah, 315 

Drucilla Ward, 315 

Ebenezer, 315 

Elial, 324 

Elisabeth, 315 

Elnathan, 109 

Harriet, 324 

lehabod, 125, 131 

Jephtha, 108 

John, 58, 315 

John, Jr., 315 

John L., 323 

Joshua, 60, 121, 131, 309 

Joshua, Jr., 131 

Kate A., 323 

Patience, 316 

Eebecca, 316 

Rebecca W., 333 

Sally, 325 
Benson's bridge, 59 
Benson Cemetery, 269 
Benson forge, 267 
Bent, Experience, 202 

Frances, 164 

George W., 255 

Ira C, 188 

Irene A., 323, 333 

Louisa, 313 



344 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Bent, John, 127, 132, 152, 189, 
190, 223, 249, 331, 333, 
335, 337 

John, Skipper, 156, 197, 
200, 201, 202, 209 

Joseph, 213 

Joseph F., 232, 236 
Bent, Griffith & Co., 255 
Besse, Eev. A, B., 179 

Barzilla, 123 

Henrietta, 322 
Bisbee, Abner, 105 

Asaph, 298 

George, 105 

Elijah, 101 

Isaac, 104 

Issacher, 103, 105 

Jane, 298, 309 

John, 105 

Jonah, 298 

Mercy, 311 

Noah, 105 

Eeuben, 109 

Eev. Eobert E., 179 
Bishop, James, 103, 105 
Blair, George E., 249, 318 
Blake, Edson C, 238 

Emma, 161 

Henry S., 263 
Blanding, Fanny S., 322 

Thomas E., 318 
Blossom, Benjamin, 109 

Ebenezer, 316 
Boardman, Elizabeth, 139, 143, 

308 
Bonney, David, 201 

Ebenezer, 103 

E. and Nathaniel', 201 

Isaac, 109 

James, 109 

Joseph, 201 

Nathaniel, Jr., 103 

Samuel, 105 

Seth, 201 

Simeon, 105 
Bonum, Ebenezer, 307 

George, 22 
Bosworth, Benjamin, 105 

James H., 320 

Noah, 103 

Peter, 316 

Sarah, 316 

Susan, 320 



Boucher, Augustus, 318 
Bounties, 46, 52 

Birds, 259 

Indians scalps, 13 

Soldiers, 231 
Bourne, Sylvanus, 26 
Bowers, Eliza A., 323 

George P., 142, 152, 188, 
189, 190, 210, 220, 254,. 
268, 282, 327 
Bowers & Jenkins, 189 
Bowers & Pratt, 211 
Bowman, Eichard, 307 
Boynton, Francelia, 325 

J. E., 182, 183, 325 

Solon E., 325 

W. Otis, 325 
Bradford, Calvin, 108 

Edward G., 314 

Gideon, Jr., 105 

Capt. John, 93, 100, 136 

John, 104 

Lewis, 97 

Lois A., 314 

Oliver, 109 

Perez, 105 

Samuel, 104, 135 

Thomas, 316 

William, 108 

Winslow, 103 

Zillah, 310 
Bradley, John, 189 
Breach, James, 183, 324 

John, 237 

William, 325 
Brett, Ezra, 333 

Hannah A., 162 

James E., 161 

Marion C, 314 

Elder Pliny, 175, 179 

Eufus J., 303, 314, 333 

Eufus L., 243 

Sylvanus L., 162 

William L., 314 
Bodfish Bridge, 265 
Bridgham, Joanna, 308 

John, 94, 100, 105, 131, 
199, 295 

Joseph, 122, 293, 298, 300- 

Dr. Joseph, 298 

Samuel, 108 
Briggs, Abitha, 167 

Ebenezer, 167 



INDEX OF NAMES 



345 



Briggs, M. Elvira, 162 

Samiiel, 159, 197 

Samuel B., 207 
Brimhall, Sylvanus, 109 
Bryant, Abigail, 316 

Benjamin, 105, 108 

BHla, 164, 165, 173 

Consider, 105 

Ephraim, 103 

Ford, 109 

George, 93 

Jacob, 109 

Jean, 316 

John, 75 

Joseph, 103 

Joshua, 103, 108 

Lemuel, 72 

Levi, 105 

Luther, 109 

Mary P., 314 

Nathan, 108 

Patrick, 109 

Samuel, 109 

Zenas, 105 
Buckles, Eev. H. W., 172 
Bull Eun, first, 233 

second, 232 
Bump, J. Henry, 228 

John, 213 

J. Myrick, 323, 337 

Laura H., 323 

Lucinda, 323 

Nancy, 313 

P. W., 219, 228 

Seth, 108 
Bumpus, Alice, 175, 320 

Andrew M., 189 

Betsey, 176, 320 

Dr. Charles S., 333 

Chloe Hooks, 316 

Daniel, 108, 320 

Daniel, Jr., 320 

Deborah, 161 

Dorcas, 321 

Edmund, 213, 265 

Edmund P., 321 

Edward, 321 

Edward P., 175, 320 

Ella, 322 

Mrs. H. W., 322 

Ira B., 161 

Capt. Jeremiah, 77 

John, 131, 132, 168, 210 



Bumpus, Lucy H., 322 

Marcus, 321 

Martha, 322 

Mary, 310 

Moses, 321, 322 

Salathiel, 102, 131 

Sarah E., 318 

Silas, 215, 226 

Silas G., 321 

Susan, 321 
Burbank, Arthur W., 262 

Bernard O., 318 

Esther A., 318 
Burgess, Jennie, 322 
Burnham, George, 325 
BuTsell, Eev, David, 166, 171, 
316 

Elisabeth, 316 
Butler, Paul, 263 



Camp, Eev. Wellington, 172 
Camp Meetings, Meth., 177 
Campbell, Eev. Othniel, 69, 70, 

71, 72, 120 
Campello Foundry, 214 
Caples, John, 239 
Carnes, Edward S., 237 
Cartee, Benjamin, 201 

John S., 190, 228 

Mrs. John S., 162 
Carter, Eev. C, 179 
Carver Green, 269 
Carver, Gov. John, 137 
Carver Light House, 130 
Case, Frank, 161, 318 
Casey, Augustus, 16, 267 

Augustus G., 16 

Frances Y., 240 

Frank, 16 

John, 16 

Joseph Y., 16, 240 

Thomas, 16 

William, 16 
Casey Place, 17, 267 
Cassidy, Mabel S., 318 
Cedar Swamp, division, 24, 25, 
26 

Doty's, 8, 26 

South Meadow, 8 
Cemeteries, 245 

Centre Assn., 248 

Commissioners, 249 



346 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Cemetery, Cushings Field, 247 
Chamberlain, John, 105, 136 

Joseph, 107, 109 

Philip, 316 
Chandler, Job C, 237, 305, 312 

John B., 234 

Joseph S., 228 

Josiah, 106 

Lucy A., 314 

Nancy B., 314 

Nancy S., 312 

Eepentanee, 244 

Euth, 312 

William B., 234 

William F., 314 

Zebedee, 108 
Chandler Brothers, 252 
Chapin, Eev. Seth, 120 
Charlotte Furnace, 62, 198, 199, 

261 
Chase, Benjamin, 303, 312, 337 

Charles H., 228, 234, 302, 
303 313 

Consider, 84, 104, 148, 258, 
295, 296, 308, 329 

Eunice, 308 

Hannah, 310 

Eev. Henry L., 120, 333 

John, 311 

Keziah, 312 

Levi, 330 

Louisa L. P., 115, 181, 311 

Lucy, 324 

Nellie 314 

Eev. Plummer, 120, 243, 333 

Eev. Walter, 172 
Cheever, Eev. Samuel, 172 
Chris Springs, 267 
Church, Meth. Epis., 178 
Churchill, Asaph, 309 

Benjamin, 306 

Caleb, 105 

Daniel, 105 

David, 108 

Deliverance, 308 

Dinah, 316 

Ebenezer, 105, 108 

Elias, 105, 108 

Isaac, 94, 103, 196, 258 

Isaac, Jr., 103 

James, 103 

Jabez, 296 

John, 103, 104, 105, 108 



Churchill, John W., 268 

Joseph, 23, 108 

Joshua, 105, 107 

Nathaniel, 103 

Stephen, 107, 109 

Timothy, 108 

William, 105 
Clark, Barnabas, 166 

George B., 263 

Elisha, 166 

Nathan, 175, 179 

Thurston, 20 
Clarks Coal House, 260 
Clarks Island, 266 
Cloth Making, 252 
Coad, John A., 325 
Coaling, 193 
Cobb, Almira H., 313 

Alvin, 309 

Barnabas, 107, 138, 224, 
225, 296, 300, 328, 335 

Benjamin, 105, 139, 214, 
276, 295, 296., 297, 298, 
299, 309, 329 

Bennett, 118, 310 

Betsey, 309 

Charles, 224, 311 

Deborah, 308, 310 

Ebenezer, 115, 146, 310 

Erastus W., 228 

Frederick, 152, 310, 331 

George, 213, 228, 229 

Hannah, 311 

Isaac, 139 

Jane E., 313 

John M., 232, 233 

Jonathan, 105 

Joseph, 143 

Joseph F., 234 

Juliet W., 313 

Lemuel, 309 

Levi, 240 

Lois, 310 

Lucinda, 312 

Lucy, 310 

Lydia, 308, 316 

Marcus E., 228 

Marstin, 210 

Marstin F., 228 

Martha, 310 

Mary, 308, 310 

Mary Drew, 311 

Mary T., 313 



INDEX OF NAMES 



347 



Cobb, Mehitable, 309 

Melissa, 310 

Mercy, 312 

Nathan, 88, 105, 115, 295, 
299, 305, 309 

Nathaniel, 295 

Nehemiah, 97, 101, 104, 
137, 224, 225, 268, 293, 
294, 296, 299, 300, 305, 
309, 328, 331, 335 

Nehemiah, 2nd, 309 

Kev. Oliver, 114 

Otis, 312 

Phebe, 310 

Polly, 309 

Eebecca, 308 

Eoland, 107 

Samuel, 105, 297, 298, 308 

Sarah, 310 

Sidney O., 234 

Solon (Rev.), 288, 313, 314 

Susanna, 310 

Sylvia, 311 

Thomas, 145, 152, 159, 224, 
225, 281, 294, 296, 299, 

302, 303, 305, 311, 326, 
329, 331, 337 

Thomas, Jr., 311 
Timothy, 104, 138, 297, 299, 

303, 308, 311, 326, 331, 
335 

William, 105, 106 
Cobb & Drew, 214, 276 
Cobb Place, 268 
Coggeshall, Josiah W., 232, 235 
Coggsvrell, Rev. Nathaniel, 119, 

120, 333 
Cole, Abbie E., 318 

Asel, 312 

Benjamin, 307 

Charles H., 228 

Charlotte, 262 

Deborah, 313 

Gersham, 108 

Hezekiah, 107, 144, 296, 
331, 335 

Hugh, 22 

Edmund, 105 

Elisabeth, 308 

Elmer B., 331 

Ephraim, 107 

James, 22 

Jane, 310 



Cole, Job, 298 

John, 22, 293, 307 

Joseph, 101, 307 

Joshua, 88, 224, 225 

Laura Ann, 313 

Leander S., 276 

Lemuel, 225 

Mary, 316 

Nellie M., 333 

Eosa A., 247, 276, 277 

Susannah, 139 

Theron M., 303, 305, 314 

Thomas C, 228 
Collins, Cuffy, 144 
Committee, Safety, 96 
Alarm report, 93 

Correspondence, 258 
Common lands, 24, 26 
Conant, Rev. Gaines, 111 

Rev. Sylvester, 244 
Continental money, 140 
Coombs, Rev. Henry C, 171 

Laura, 314 

Elder Simeon, 166 
Cooper, John, 196 

Richard, 22 
Cooperage, 252 
Copeland, Nancy, 313 

Ralph, 260, 302, 303, 313, 
327 
Corban, Lucien B., 239 
Cornell, Charles F. 314 
Cornish, A. Freeman, 318, 323 

Berniee E., 318 

Blanche E., 318 

Ellis G., 318, 331, 333 

Ellis H., M. D., 289, 318, 
333 

Gertrude E., 318 

Irene A., 318 

Mary A., 318 

Nancy L., 318, 325 

Paul D., 319 

Virginia H., 319 

Wilhelmina L., 263, 323 

William E., 319 
Costello, Catherine, 263 

Julia, 263 
Counterfeit money, 84 
Courts, 37 
Covil, Alfred C, 161 

Orinna, 318 



348 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Cranberries, 218, 220, 221, 222, 

260 
Cranberry road, 269 
Crocker, Abel, 196, 294, 297, 
299, 306, 308 

Abigail, 309 

Benjamin, 108, 136, 148, 
294 

Eleazer, 96, 97, 103, 295, 
299, 300, 307 

Elijah, 201 

Heman, 103 

Hannah Nelson, 311 

Joseph, 105, 309 

Lemuel, 308 

Lemuel N., 207 

Lydia, 312 

Margaret, 309 

Mary, 308 

Theophilus, 307 
Cross Paths, 87 
Crowell, Eben, 161 
Cummings, Eev. Abraham, 171 
Curry, Eev. John M., 183 
Curtice, Benjamin, 199 
Curtis, Eev. David, 171 
Cashing, Gamaliel, 323 

Matthew, 176 

Matthew H., 219, 321 

Nathaniel S., 199, 219, 228^ 
333 

Eev. Perez L., 172, 316 

Polly, 321 

Seth, 257, 258 
Cushman, Ann, 244 

Andrew, 109 

Benjamin, 97, 105 

Caleb, 61, 109, 258 

Ebenezer, 106 

Elkanah, Jr., 103 

Isaac, 43, 103, 168, 258 

Isaiah, 94, 96, 97, 103, 108, 
109, 257, 258 

Jacob, 105 

Jerusha C, 313 

Josiah, 105 

Samuel, 103 

Stephen, 132, 133, 188 

Susannah, 321 

Thomas, 103, 109, 116, 303, 
305, 313 

William, 108 

Zachariali, 105 



Cushman, Zebedee, 109 
Cushman farm, 61 

Darby road, 58 
David Place, 62 
Davis, William T., viii 
Deacons, Baptist, 173 

Congregationalist, 305 

Advents, 183 
Declaration of Independence, 96 
Dempsey, Eobert M., 333 
Derby, John, 20 
Dexter, Eev. Elijah, 115 
Dimmick, Charles W., 263, 264 
Dimond, Maria W., 319 

Ira C, 319 

Ada L., 319 
Donham, Marcy, 47 
Dorr, Eev. E. M., 179 
Doten, Amaziah, 105 

Deborah, 310 

Ebenezer, 294, 296, 300, 
308, 309, 329, 335 

Edward, 335 

Hannah, 310 

Huldah, 316 

Jacob, 307 

James, 103 

John, 307, 310 

Lucy, 311 

Mary, 308 

Eebeeca, 308, 309 

Sarah, 316 

Seth, 108 

Thomas, 107 
Doty, Edward, 20 

Samuel, 22 

Thomas, 107, 300 
Douglass, Jesse P., 325 

John, 316 

Lydia, 316 

Nancy, 322 

Nannie, 161 

Maria F., 325 

Martha, 322 
Dowsett, Almira,C., 325 

Lottie, 319 
Drew, Atwood E., 240 

Edwin O., 240 

John, 172 

Lieut. Thomas, 16, 199 

William E., 276 



INDEX OF NA]\IES 



349 



Dunham, Asa, 108 

Barnabas M., 316, 330 
Benjamin, 316 
Benjamin W., 235 
Betsey, 316 
Charles O., 262 
Consider, 253 
Cornelius, 168, 295, 331 
Daniel, 22 
Daniel B., 235 
Ebenezer, 106, 131, 159, 

168, 173, 228, 316, 321, 

322, 330 
Eleazer, 309 
Elijah, 109 
Elisabeth, 310 
Elisha M., 161, 179, 228, 

321, 327, 333 
Ellis D., 234 
Ephraim, 173, 316 
Hannah, 308 
Hannah H., 314 
Harriet A., 314, 325 
Henry, 311 
Henry A., 228, 234 
Hervey, 210 
Ichabod, 132, 316 
Irving, 322 
Israel, 108, 224, 225, 296, 

299, 311 
Isaac, 159 
Isaac L., 213 
James, Jr., 109 
John, 22, 58, 105, 219, 229, 

232, 261, 308 
Joseph, 22, 23, 316 
Julia A., 322 
Luella, 325 
Lucy, 312 
Lydia, 316 
Marv, 308, 316, 322 
Mary G., 316 
Matilda, 311 
Micager, 23 
Moses, 296 
Nathaniel, 22 
Priscilla, 316 
Eebecca, 316 
Kuth, 325 
Kuth F., 321 
Sally T., 324 
Samuel, 131, 316 
Silas, 105 



Dunham, Simeon, 106 

Susannah, 316 

Sylvanus, 103, 299 

Thomas S., 235 
Dunlap, Sylvester, 322 
Duxbury, Eev. J. E., 179 
Dwelly, Richard, 68, 86, 299, 
300, 307 

Eames, Andrew R., 314 

Charlotte E., 305 

Flora I., 314 

Luther, 314 

Mabel H., 314 

Mary M., 313 
East Head, 3, 4 
East Head bog, 220, 283 
Eaton, Noah, 109 
Eddy, Jabez, 257, 307 

Jabez, Jr., 294, 306 

Joshua, 197, 199, 208 

Moses, 306 
Edson, David, 77 
Egypt, 266 

Eldredge, Zelotus K., 161 
Ellis, Barnabas, 312 

Benjamin, 16, 126, 131, 156, 
159, 202, 203, 209, 224, 
225, 226, 271, 299, 301, 
326, 331, 335 

Eliza, 161 

Freeman, 105 

Hannah, 133 

James, 132, 243 

Joel, 103, 104, 308 

Joseph, 132, 168, 202, 203, 
205 

Mary, 133, 321 

Matthias, 188, 199, 205, 
227, 243, 255, 272, 326, 
333 

Stephen, 105 
Ellis, Benj. & Co., 203 
Ellis, Matthias & Co., 205 
Ellis Foundry Co.. 205, 206 
Ellison, Annie, 319 

Eev. Joseph, 171, 319 
Everett, Rev. Noble, 77 



Faulkner, Belle, 161 
Faunce, Alden, 316 



350 



HISTORY OF CAEVER 



Faunce, Daniel, 104, 308, 316 
Eliza, 314 
Nancy, 310 
Euth, 165, 316 
Sarah, 309 
Farmers Boilers, 207 
Finney Bros., 57 
Finney, Abbot G., 263 

Benjamin D., 217, 219 
Laura L., 262 

Harvey, 236 

Seth, C. C, 331, 333, 337 
Fire, Railroad, 261 
First Swamp, 268 
Fish, Rev. John S., 179 

Nancy C, 322 
Fisher, Rev. T. P., 179 
Fflallowel, John, 22 
Forbes, Charles A., 314 

Dorothy C, 314 

Jennie A., 314 

Rev. Washington H., 314 
Ford, Minnie D., 319 
Foundry, Charlotte burned, 203 

E. D. Shaw & Sons, 262 
Fox Island, 266 
France School house, 175 
Freelove, John, 202 
Freeman, Rev. Frederick, 115 

John, 313 

Polly C, 313 

Rufus C, 128, 189, 190, 
327, 333 
Fresh Meadows, 51, 269 
Fresh Meadow Village, 59 
Fuller, Andrew A., 239 

Benjamin, 107 

Benjamin F., 237 

Bridget, 22 

Ebenezer, 296, 297, 298, 
299, 303, 310 

Ebenezer, Jr., 313 

Elisabeth, 308 

Ezra, 333 

Hannah, 308, 313 

Isaac, 299 

Issacher, 106, 139, 143, 
294, 297, 308 

John, 105 

Mary, 116 

Mary A., 311 

Nathaniel, 105 

Noah, 107 



Fuller, Samuel, 105 
Fullerton, Rev. Noah, 171 
Furnaces, blast, 192 

Federal, 207 

Fresh Meadows, 215 

Slug, 213 

Wenham, 213, 214 

Pratt & Ward, 213 
Furnace Village, 199 



Game Preserve, 263 
Gammons, Dora F., 322 

Henry H., 322 

Jairus, 316 

Lizzie, 319 

Mary, 316 

Sullivan, 175, 320 
Gannett, Benjamin, 99 

Thomas, 136 
Gardner, Adeline, 314 

Edgar E., 266, 305, 314 

William, 109 
Garnett, Rose, 325 
Garvin, Minnie, 322 
Gay, Rev. E., 120 
Gibbs pond, 258 
Gibbs, Betsey B., 323 

Caroline, 263 

Mary W., 312 

Sadie F., 263, 324 

Thomas, 323 

Thomas F., 323 

William B., 189, 190. 
Gill, Lucie PI., 161 
Glazier, Rev. Burt J., 183, 325 

Elmer D., 325 

I. Christine, 325 

Lettie L., 325 
Glover, Rev. Samuel, 171, 333 
Goetz, Katherine, 319 
Goldsmith, Rev. Charles F., 120 
Goodwin, Nathaniel, 209 
Gonsalves, Betsev J., 319 
Goulds Bottom, 266 
Gould, Betsev N., 319 

Samuel W., 173, 319 
Grady, Martin, 63 

Rainah, 316 
Gradvs pond, 63 
Graffam, Rev. A. Davis, 171, 319 

Annie F., 319 
Grassy Island, 61 



INDEX OF NAMES 



351 



Gray, John, 26 

Great Line, first, 28 

Great Lots, cedar swamp, 25 

P. and P. Commons, 27, 28 

Greenwood, Eev. , 120 

Griffith, Alonzo D. 324 

Andrew, 152, 161, 190, 228, 
329, 331 

Carrie B., 161 

Charles W., 228, 233, 260 

Ellis, 104, 109, 132, 141, 
188 

Ephraim, 61, 103, 131, 161, 
168, 219 

E. Lloyd, 207 

Helen, 161 

Helen A., 324 

Henry S., 190, 249, 324, 
328, 329, 333, 337 

John W., 210 

Lucius E., 236 

Mabel, 263, 324 

Martha M., 324 

Mary, 316 

Obed, 132, 202 

Orlando P., 207 

Orville K., 207, 324 

Silvanus, 132, 213 

Stephen, 132, 226 

Thomas B., 227, 229, 233, 
249, 255, 283, 327, 331 

Wilson, ]32 
Gurney, Benjamin, 307 
Gutterman, 192 



Halfway ponds, 62 
Hall, Abner, 103 

Eliza A., 316 

Ferdinand, 109 

Jabez, 202 

Lydia, 132 

Eev. T. M., 179 

Capt. of Little Compton, 
307 
Ham, Samuel, Jr., 239 
Hamblin, Eev. H. W,, 179 

Eev. J. B., 179 
Hammond, Anna W., 311 

Benjamin, 132, 325 

Betsey S., 324 

George, 3 00, 301 

George W., 312 



Hammond, Hannah, 310 

Henry T., 338 

Julia F., 183, 325 

Lueien T., 161, 236 

Lydia M., 313 

Mary, 308, 311 

Nehemiah C, 312, 333 

Persis, 311 

Persis Cobb, 311 

Eowland, 102, 131, 164, 165, 
173, 293, 294, 301, 307 

Sarah A., 324 

Thomas, 79, 113, 132, 144, 
146, 158, 241, 260, 261, 
296, 299, 301, 303, 305, 

. 310, 329, 331, 334, 335 

William, 161, 312, 314, 328 
Harlow, Abner, 109 

Alvin C, 228, 243, 303, 312 

Barnabas, 106 

Benjamin, 161, 316 

Benjamin, 2nd, 316 

Benjamin F., 322 

Maj. Branch, 197 

Cordelia F., 313 

Elijah, 109 

Ephraim, 293, 296, 297, 298, 
301, 303, 312, 330 

Ephraim T., 228 

George, 107 

Hannah, 312 

Isaac, 161 

James, 94, 109 

Lavina, 316 

Lazarus, 106 

Lydia D., 316, 322 

Nathaniel, 106, 258 

Eobert, 108, 

Eosette B., 313 

Samuel, 22 

Simeon, 161 

Thomas, 103 

William, 22, 105, 109 
Hart, Annie, 316 

Sophe, 316 

Swanzea, 168, 202, 316 
Haskell, Noah, 316 
Haskins, William, 22 
Hatch, Abigail S., 324 

Anna G., 325 

Ichabod, 105 

John B., 228, 237, 316, 324 

William C, 262 



352 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Hatfield, Eev. E., 172 
Hathaway, Abigail, 321 

Lucy P., 324 

Kufus, 228 

William E., 182, 183, 824 
Haverty, Thomas, 239 
Hawkes, Hannah, 263, 324 

Harry O., 324 
Hayden, Herbert H., 322 

Joseph, 207 

Rosa C, 322 

William, 207 
Haywood, Dr. Nathan, 209 
Hearse, 142 
Hearvy, David, 307 

Elisabeth, 308 
Hemlock Island, 265 
Herring Brook, 267 
Higgins, Fulmer A., 314 
Highland Foundry Co., 212 
Highways, 52 
Hoar, Peter, 166 
Hobill, Sophronia, 322 
Hogreaves, 141 
Holiday, first general, 70 
Holmes, Charity, 316 

Charles H., 240 

Church, 316 

Eleazer, 107, 109 

Jacob, 189 

Jesse A., 262 

Job, 103 

Job, Jr., 103 

John, 26 

Jonathan, 107, 109 

Capt. Joseph, 146 

Lewis, 225 

Philander J., 240 

Mrs. P. J., 249 

Rhoda, 309 

Simeon, 103 

Eev. Sylvester, 114 
Hooks, Nathaniel, 316 
Hooper, Asa, 109 
Hopkins, Stephen, 20 
Hovey, James, 199 
Howard, Patience, 322 
Howland, Abigail, 309 

Calvin, 298 

Elisabeth, 308 

Eev. John, 72, 73, 74, 76, 
120, 137, 259, 307 

Thankful, 309 



Huckleberry Corner, 61 
Hudson, James S., 322 

Julia, 322 
Hunt, Eev. E. A., 178, 179 

Emily F., 322 
Hunting, Henry A., 239 
Huntinghouse Brook, 2, 268 
Hvmiphrey, Asa, 311 

Galen, 321 
Hurd, Manoah, 238 

William D., 322 



I. O. G. T. lodges, 161 
Indians, 13, 14, 16, 17, 267 
Inflation, 74, 84 
Ingham, Donald B., 323 

Katherine B., 276, 323 
Inspector of nails, 141 
Intemperance, 155, 159, 171, 

193 
Inquisition, 159 
Irwin, William, 234, 316 
Island Farm, 62 



Jackson, Abraham, 22 

Barnabas, 109 

Eleazer, 297, 299, 307 

Eansom, 307 

Samuel, 293, 299, 307 

Sarah, 16 
Jacksons Point, 266 
James, Josephine A., 314 
Jefferson, Benjamin, 321 

Carrie, 322 

James M., 319 

Madison, 322 

Walter T., 324 
Jenkins, S. Freedom, 128, 189, 
190, 254, 334 

William F., 254 
Jenney, John, 20, 267 
Jewett, Eev, Paul, 120 
Johnson, Abbie A., 319 

Eev. Charles G., 179 

Ezekiel, 108 

Eev. Lorenzo D., 175 

Seth, 108 
Joel Field, 265 
Jones, Paine M. C, 337 
Jourdan, John, 22 
Jowett, Mary P. S,, 261, 263, 324 



INDEX OF NAMES 



353 



JudsoD, Eev. Adoniram, 77 



Keith, Miriam, 316 

Union, 201 
Kelley, Charles, 207 

John, 239 
Kendall, Eev. Ezra, 166, 171, 259 

Eev. James, 77 
Kenney, A. E., 190 
Delia G., 263 

John A., 331, 334 
Kennedy, James P., 145 
Kentucky Furnace, 199 
Kidds Island, 269 
Kilroy, John, 238 
King, Amaziah, 143 

Caleb, 316 

Charles A., 312 

Hattie W., 314 

Isaac, 143 

John, 107, 309 

Jonathan, 132 

Eev. Jonathan, 120, 313, 334 

Joseph, 132 

Li2zie C, 314 

Lydia, 144 

Nathaniel, 316 

Sarah F., 313, 325 
King Philip hall, 141, 267 

Spring, 267 

War, 14, 23, 267 
Knights of Labor, 261 
Knott, Aaron B., 321 

Sally, 321 



Lakenham, 14, 21, 57, 58, 267 
Lalor, Thomas, 239 
Langly, Samuel, 239 
Land, 19, 20, 22, 23 
Lavender, Susie, 322 
Law, Alexander, 279 
Lawrence, Susan A., 285 
Lawson, Thomas W., 263 
Lazell, Gen. Sylvanus, 208 
Leach, Abbie, 319 

Eev. Albert, 171, 319 

Lizzie, 161 

Eev. William, 171, 334 
Leach's forge, 267 
Leaming, L. Georgie, 319 
Lebaron, Abigail, 316 



Lebaron, Lazarus, 196, 316 
Mary, 316 
Sarah, 316 
Temperance, 316 
Leonard, Benjamin F., 128 
Eev. H. P., 120 
Ichabod, 225, 335 
Eowland, 131 
Eowland & Co., 200 
Leslie, Elder I. I., 182, 183, 324 
Lettuce, Thomas, 22 
Lewis, Eleazer, 131 

Emma L., 325 
Lewis, Katy H., 325 
Marion W., 319 
Mary Eva, 325 
Shubet, 307 
Lincoln, Amelia A., 314 
George P., 249 
Jennie M., 319 
Mary, 263 

Eev, Nehemiah, 120, 314, 
334 
Linfield, William, 77 
Liquor Agents, 160, 260 
Livingstone, William W., 314 
Lobdell, Ebenezer, 106 

Isaac, 108 
Lockhart, George E., 319 

Eev. George H., 171, 319 
Herbert, 319 
Lorena, 319 
Margaret, 319 
Lodging House, 204 
Long, Gustavus H., 322 

Ellen, 322 
Look, Susan, 321 
Loring, Caleb, 106, 244 
Ignatius, 103, 106 
Isaac, 104 
Jabez, 201 
Jacob, 109 
Joshua, 101, 103 
Simeon, 108 
Thomas, 96, 103 
Loring, Wilfred B., 319 
Lothrop, Isaac, 196 
Isaac, Jr., 196 
Lothrops forge, 267 
Loveland, Anna E., 325 
Lovell, Ella, 161 
Loyal Temp. Union, 162 



354 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Lucas, Abigail, 164, 307, 309, 

316 
Abijah, 108, 224, 225, 258, 

299, 309, 331 
Anna, 312 
Barnabas, 88, 106, 107, 295, 

308 
Barnev, 321 
Benjamin, 107, 109, 225, 

308 
Lieut. Beniamin, 225 
Benoni, 22, 58 
Bethia, 316 
Calvin, 168 
Charlotte, 313 
Consider, 109 
Eben S., 316, 331, 334 
E. Allan, 173, 319 
Eleanor, 310, 316 
Elijah, 106 
Elisha, 103, 109, 196, 257, 

294, 301, 307, 309 
Eliza H., 316 
Elkanah, 131, 163, 295 
Emma, 314 
Ephraira, 109 
Ezra, 303, 312 
Hannah, 311 
Hannah S., 316 
Harvey, 316 
Helen, 319 
Henry E., 319 
Horatio A., 152, 172, 173, 

219, 249, 316, 327, 331 
Hosea, 168 
Isaac 107 
Isaac' Shaw, 107, 225, 296, 

305, 309 
Jesse F., 237 
Jemina, 311 
John, 22, 107, 225, 301, 

309 
Lieut. John, 225 
John S., 159 
Joseph, 68, 103, 196, 293, 

299, 301, 307 
Lois, 310 
Lot S., 319 
Lydia, 308, 309 
Martha, 309 
Martin L., 317 
Maria E., 319 
Mary, 310, 317 



Lucas, Mary E., 319 
Mary S., 317 
Nehemiah, 104 
Persis, 181, 311 
Eebeeca, 309 
Euby, 309 
Euth, 317 
Salla, 317 
Samuel, 68, 106, 131, 144, 

168, 172, 196, 258, 293, 

294, 299, 301, 307, 311, 

329, 336 
Samuel, Jr., 137, 138, 294, 

301, 328, 331 
Samuel, 3d, 109, 148, 294, 

299, 301, 328 
Lieut. Samuel, 299, 301 
Dea. .Samuel, 93, 95, 294, 

301 
Warren, 313 
William, 294, 307 
Zillah, 317 
Lumber trade, 251 
Lyon, Asahel, 108 
Obadiah, 131 
Zebedee, 109 



Macadam Eoad, 262 
Mace, Eev. J, M., 171 
Macllwain, Geo. E., 324 
Magoon, James, 104 
Makepeace, Abel D., 220 
Mann, Isaac, Jr., 75 
Manter, Alden, 317 

Ella F., 162 

Emma F., 162 

Everett T., 240 

Hattie, 322 

Nelson F., 161, 207 

Pardon, 317 

Polly, 317 

Sylvia E., 322 

Thomas P., 161 
Manly, Eev. W. E., 179 
Marshfield, 98 
May training, 226 
Mayhew, Thomas, 87 
Maxim, Abijah, 317 

Almira, 321 

Ansel B., 238, 321, 328, 
334 

Basheba, 317 



INDEX OF NAMES 



355 



Maxim, Caleb, 317 

Elisabeth, 161, 321 

Ellis, 189, 321 

Jabez, 107, 123, 168, 330 

Jabez, Jr., 168 

John, 106, 131, 139, 176, 

258 325 
John,' Jr., 117, 285, 309, 

310 
John M., 228, 235, 321 
Joseph, 317 
Lydia, 317 
Martha, 309 
Marv, 310, 321 
Mehitable, 317 
Nathan, 238 

Patience, 175, 317, 320,321 
Phebe, 317 
Sarah, 321, 322 
Seth S., 176, 177, 321 
Sophronia, 310 
Susan, 322 
Susan A., 175, 320 
Thomas, 102, 131, 159, 168, 

175, 176, 177, 190, 320 
Thomas, Jr., 175, 176, 320 
Watson T., 321 
MeCabe, Thomas, 239 
McFarlin, Alberta M., 322 
Anne E., 263, 324 
Charles D., 219, 220 
Cora, 322 
David, 109 
Donald, iii, 207, 324 
Eldoretta, 249, 263, 324 
Elijah, 106, 109 
Elvira S., 322 
Harriet, 320 
Helena, viii, 263, 324 
Huit, 126, 131, 168, 329, 

331, 336 
Huldah, 321 
Isadore L., 324 
Jason B., 162, 321 
Joseph, 108 
Joseph T., 161, 321 
John B., 162, 207, 235, 

322 
Lueretia, 161 
Mabel M., 162, 319 
Martha, 322 
Madella, 322 
Mercy J., 161 



McFarlin, Peleg, 189, 190, 199, 
206, 243, 289, 326, 327, 
328, 334 

Eebecca, 321 

Sampson, 188, 219, 227 

Sarah F., 263, 324 

Solomon F., 161, 227, 228 

Susan A., 322 

Thomas H., 219 

Veretta, 263, 322, 324 

Capt. William S., 161, 227, 
229, 232, 234, 321 

Wilson, 228, 232, 234, 321 
McHenry, Samuel, 325 
McKay,' Helen F., 262, 314 

James S., 59 
McMahon, Thomas, 239 
McSheary, James, 237 
Mead, Eev. Asa, 77 
Meade, Eev. Alfred F., 183 
Meeting House, 85, 86, 89, 169, 

305 
Megone, David, 94 
Melish, Eev. John, 177 
Merritt, Andrew D., 233 

Emma F., 325 
Metcalf, Cordelia, 319 
Methodism, 81, 115, 175 
Middleton, William E., 238 
Miller, Edward, 239 

Nellie A., 322 

William, 161, 322 
Millerites, 116, 181 
Military duty, 36, 223 
Minute Men of 1861, 232 
Molly Holmes Place, 267 
Moore, Emma F., 263 

George, 20 

Jane L., 263 

Eev. John, 120 
Moranville, Lillian F., 319 
Morris, John, 109 

Eose, 324 
Morrison, William, 108, 131, 269 
Morse, Cephas, 314 

Ephraim, 108 

Dr. George F., 325 

Hannah, 312 

Hosea B., 238 

John P., 322 

Levi F., 338 

Lucinda E., 325 

Mary A., 314 



356 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Morse, Phebe M., 314 

Kobert P., 232 

Eussell T., 319 

Simeon, 202 

Susannah, al4 

William, 309 
Moss, Lucy, 317 

Theodore, 317 
Morton, Elisabeth, 317 

Elisha, 109, 317 

George, 23 

Job, 296, 313 

Nathaniel, 22, 307 

Seth, 197 
Mt. Misery, 266 
Mt. Washington Iron Co., 280 
Mulford, Sarah P., 285 
Murder, Pero, 109 
Murdock, Azubah, 310 

Bartlett, 15, 62, 102, 103, 
104, 121, 131, 198, 202. 

Bartlett, Jr., 131, 200, 201, 

202, 331, 336 

Col. Bartlett, 205, 209, 224, 

226, 242, 280, 331 
Deborah, 203, 272 
Edward, 110 
Elisha, 131, 132, 202, 225, 

228, 330, 331 
Elisha, Jr., 132 
E. Herman, 324, 338 
Fanny, 247 
Henry C, 189, 190 
Ira, iv, 126, 132, 226, 334, 

336 
James, 107, 131, 1&^ 
Jesse, 110, 126, 13^, 152, 

159, 186, 188, 189, 190, 

203, 205, 247, 255, 261, 
272, 326, 331, 336 

John, 61, 68, 161, 189, 190, 
202, 228, 233, 301, 306 

Mary A., 161 

Sarah, 309 

Seabury, 210 

Susan A., 263, 324 

Swanzea, vii, 110 

William, 168, 226 
Murdock Homestead, 62 
Murdock Parlor Grate Co., 256 



Nash, Daniel W., 183, 325 



Nelson, Elder Ebenezer, 165, 
166 

Elder Samuel, 166 

Stephen, 165 

William, 22 
Newhall, George, 325 
Newport, Prince, 110 
New Bridge, 269 
N. E. Town meeting, 35 
New Meadows, 3, 219 
Nicholls, Elisabeth J., 317 

James C, 317 
Nicol, Adam, Jr., 240 
Niles, Eev. Asa, 172 

Eev. Samuel, 77 
Nixon, Clara, 321, 322 
Northern, Jesse M., 325 

Lydia F., 325 
Nott, Aaron, 133, 176 
Nova Scotia, 255 
Nye, Ann E., 319 

Bonuni, 295 

Elias, 295 

Jabez, 294, 307 

Isaac, 295, 308 

Lucy, 319 



O 'Connell, William H., 233 

Ocean house, 267 

Old Gate road, 265 

Old Home Week ins., 262 

Onset Bay, 283 

Ore, bog, 198 

Jersey, 200 

Pond, 198 
Overseers of Poor, 146 
Owers, John C, 314 



Packard, Rev. Joshua F., 171, 
319 

Susie D., 319 

Eev. Willard F., 171 
Paine, Eev. Emerson, 115 
Palmer, Joshua, 105 
Panis, John B., 317 

Susan, 317 
Paper money, 91 
Park Commission, 263 
Parker, Eev. C. A., 171 

Eev. Jonathan, 66 

Jonathan, 244 



INDEX OF NAMES 



357 



Parker, Samuel, 240 

Sarah, 310 
Paro, Edward, 207 
Parris, Eev. Johu B., 171 
Parrish, Josiah, 105 
Parish, abolished, 83 
Parsons, Anna, 317 

James, 317 

Eev. James, 171 
Parting Ways, 58 
Pawtuxets, 13 
Pearson, Abbie P., 319 

Ezra F., viii, 233 

Eobert B., 238, 334 

William W., 236 
Peekham, Abbie J., 31& 

Annie G., 319 

Annie H., 319 

Henry M., 319 

Mabel I., 319 
Penno, Sophia, 323 
Perkins, Albert W., 234 

Alvin, 210, 317, 331, 336 

Alvin S., 228 

Arthur C, 325 

Charles C, 323, 334 

Calvin, 105 

Ebenezer, 110 

Elisabeth, 317 

Elmer B., 314, 325, 334 

Flora, 323 

Oideon, 102, 168 

Grace I., 323 

Hannah, 308 

Isaac, 309 

Jacob T., 330 

John, 110 

Jonathan B., 314 

Joseph, 93, 106 

Joshua, 75, 96, 101, 195, 
295, 299 

Josiah, 103, 106, 110 

Luke, 103, 226, 301, 330, 
336 

Molly, 309 

Nancy B., 161 

Olive, 314 

Priscilla, 317 

Temperance, 310 

Zephaniah, 101 
Perras, Moses, 166 
Perry, Abisha S., 228 

Ezra, 107 



Perry, Salathial, 202 
Phenix Iron Works, 279 
Phillips, Betsey, 16 
Plynipton, settlement with, 139, 

140 
Plymouth, bounds of, 21 
Plymouth Foundry Co., 284 
Plymouth and Plympton Com., 

26, 27 
Pierce, Ignatius, 317 

Jesse, 317 

Joseph, 317 

Keziah, 317 
Piercon, John, 207 
Pink, Anna L., 314 

Stewart H., 243, 331 
Pokanet, 17 

Field, 17, 269 
Polypody cove, 266 
Pool, Jacob, 77 
Poor, 142, 143, 144 
Poor farm, 145, 146 
Ponds, Atwood, 61 

Bates, 3, 61 

Barretts, 4 

Beaver Dam, 3 

Bowers Trout, 268 

Cedar, 4 

Clear, 4 

Coopers, 4 

Cranebrook, 15 

Derby or Darby, 20 

Dotys, 4, 57 

Dunhams, 3 

Furnace, 62 

Goulds Bottom, 4 

Johns, 4, 22 

Sampsons, 3, 198 

Tihonet, 4 

Triangle, 4, 267 

Wenham, 57, 269 
Pope, Thomas, 22, 58, 194 
Popes Point, 58, 194 
Popes Point furnace, 59, 195 
Population, 250 
Post Offices, 243 
Powers, Leonard S., 314 

Lydia C, 314 
Pratt, Allen, 311 

Alma M., 319 

Benijah, 22, 306 

Benjamin, 110, 307 

Betsey T,, 317 



358 



HISTORY OF CAEVER 



Pratt, Catherine L., 325 

Charles F., 235 

Consider, 110 

Daniel, 103 

David, 214, 301, 328, 329, 
331, 334, 336 

Eleazer, 23 

EUen, 285 

Ephraim, 107, 213, 293, 
296, 328 

Ephraim T., 334 

E. Tillson, 284, 334 

Enoch, 228 

George H., 237 

Hannah B., 313 

I. and J. C, 260 

Jabez, 307 

John, 22, 57 

Joseph, 23, 210, 272, 294, 
306, 334 

Joseph 2nd, 214 

Lemuel, 293, 301 

Lewis, viii, 159, 168, 213, 
214, 215, 272, 274, 326, 
331, 336 

Matthias, 214 

Miles, 273, 334 

Nancy, 289, 314 

Nathaniel, 103, 110 

Noah, 109, 164, 165, 317 

Patience, 139, 309 

Priscilla, 312 

Euth, 310 

Sally B., 313 

Stillman, 334 

Rev. Stillman, 116, 119, 120 

Susannah, 285 

Tillson, 317 

Tillson & Son, 260 

Thomas, 307 

Winslow, 181, 312, 325 
Precinct, 65, 67, 68, 69, 75, 77, 

78, 80 
Precinct records, iv 
Province Eoek, 265 
Province tax, 95 
Putnam, Rev. Israel W., 119 



Quieting of possessions, 38 
Quiaby, Byron C. 277 
Quitticus, 17, 269 



Eamsden, Daniel, 22 
Ransom, Abigail, 308 

Capt. Benjamin, 224, 225 

Benjamia, 104, 159, 165,. 
181, 183, 243, 299, 301, 
303, 309, 312, 317, 326, 
331, 336 

David, 104, 295 

Ebenezer, 105, 106, 297, 
299, 307 

Elijah, 106 

Hazadiah, 309 

John, 311 

Joseph, 106, 307 

Levi, 181, 183, 237, 311,. 
325 

Louisa, 325 

Lucy, 181, 312, 325 

Nathaniel M., M. D., 183,. 
325, 334 

Phebe, 181, 311 

Rebecca, 181, 310 

Robert, 22 

Samuel, 307 

Sarah L., 325 

Willis, 317 
Rardon, John, 239 
Rates abated, 124 
Ray, John, 239 
Raymond, Stephen, 108 
Recall of decision, 72 
Reed, John, 209 

Polly, 325 
Revival, 113, 169, 177 
Richards, Elijah, 108 

Hannah P., 324 

Rufus L., 195, 324 
Richmond, Rev. Abel, 77, 114 

Henry, 202 
Rickard, Abner, 108 

Eleazer, 103, 108 

Elijah, 107, 110 

Gyies, Jr., 22 

Hiram L., 314 

Isaac, 106 

John, 22, 104 

Jonathan, 103 

Joseph, 307 

Josiah, 26 

Lemuel, 106 

Lucy W., 314 

Samuel, 26 

Theodore, 106 



INDEX OF NAMES 



359 



Eidge, the, 2, 151 
Biggs, Christy L., 314 

Eev. Ezra J., 314 

Ida L., 314 
King, Andrew, 22 

William, 22 
Bipley, Abigail, 309 

Eleazer, 108 

Frances, 105, 110 

Isaiah, 106 

Joseph, 103 

Josiah, 103 

Samuel, 106 

Timothy, 97, 103 

William, 93, 109 
Eisse, Peter, 22 
Bobbins, Abigail, 311, 317 

Adelbert P., 319 

Annie H,, 314 

Benjamin W., 219, 303, 
314, 327, 338 

Consider, 312, 317 

Chandler, 303, 311 

Eleazer, 103, 107, 295 

Ephraim, 243 

Ethel v., 314 

Evelyn P., 314 

Grace I., 319 

Harriet, 310 

Mrs, Horace C, 59 

James, 301 

Jane E., 314 

Jeduthen, 23 

John S., 232, 237, 314 

Joseph, 132, 139, 143, 168, 
173, 181, 219, 299, 304, 
311, 317, 330 

Joseph S., 237 

Josiah, 228 

Lizzie A., 314 

Lloyd C, 314 

Mary E., 319 

Maurice P., 315 

Patience, 181, 311, 317 

Priscilla, 317 

Kebecca, 311 

Eebecca L., 319, 325 

Eosina, P., 319 

Susan, 319 

Susie A., 315 
Eobens, Eleazer, 308 

John, 307 

Priscilla, 308 



Eobinson, Eev. E. W., 120 

Elder George, 165 
Eobinson swamp, 266 
Eochester road, 62, 57 
Eogers, Lawrence M., 324 

Mary C, 324 
Eoy, Ethel V., 263 
Euggles, Jacob Loring, 110 
Eum shops, 122, 155, 156 
Eunnells, Samuel B., 240 
Eyan, James J., 263, 324 
Eyder, Anna, 175, 320 

Charles, 175, 176, 177, 320, 
331, 334 

Nathan, 219 

Nathaniel, 103 

Eosa, 323 



Sampson, Deborah, 99 

Gideon, 106, 295 

Henry, 103 

Ichabod, 304, 312 

John, 75, 201 

Peleg, 106 

Capt. Thomas, 100 

William, 110 

Zabdiah, 106 
Sanborn, John D., 232, 237 
Sandwich, 21 
Savery, Anna E., 263, 324 

Benjamin H., 237 

Ethel, 263, 324 

Harriett D., 261, 263, 324 

James, 117, 141, 298, 310 

John, 126, 132, 151, 159, 
176, 202, 203, 278, 279, 
326, 328, 331, 334 

Mary, 272 

Mary T., 313 

Peleg, 332 

Peleg Barrows, 275 

Polly, 189 

Samuel, 22 

S. Louise, 263, 324 

Thomas, 93, 96, 107, 136, 
137, 146, 163, 258, 297, 
305, 308, 332, 336 

Hon. Thomas, 279 

Timothy, 210 

Waitstill A., 283 



360 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Savery, William, 142, 152, 185, 
186, 187, 189, 190, 260, 
261, 273, 327, 334 

William E., 190, 233 

William S., 304, 315, 326, 
332 
Savery 's Avenue, 261 
Savery Place, James, 267 
Saw mills, 54, 60 
Schools, 47, 147, 148, 149, 150, 

151, 152, 257, 260 

Endowments, 153 

Masters, 35, 147 
Schouler, Lizzie M., 162 
Sears, Elisabeth, 317 

Ella, 161, 323 

Hannah, 317 

Joseph, 317 

Lueetta, 317 

Orrin B., 323 

Euby, 317 
Seipets, 15, 62 
Seipet, Desire, 16 

Launa, 16, 267 

Moses, 257 
Selectmen, care of Indians, 16 

Qualifications, 35 
Sextons, 142 

Shattuck, Kev. Frank, 183 
Shaky Bottom bridge, 265 
Shaw, Abigail, 168, 317 

Adaleita, 323 

Adeline B., 317 

Alfred M., 189, 190, 219, 
249, 324 

Alice G., 324 

Alonzo D., 161, 233 

Alvan, 132 

Ambrose, 106 

Anna K., 263 

Anne W., 313 

Atwood, 176, 219, 325 

Bartlett, 228, 232, 234 

Benjamin, Jr., 104 

Benoni, 248, 299, 307 

Cephas, 228, 275 

Charles S., 304, 315 

Chloe S., 325 

Crispus, 132, 267 

Daniel, 188, 189, 226, 243, 
332, 336 

David, 332, 336 

Deborah, 308 



Shaw, Eben D., 284, 332, 334 
Edward C, 162, 262 
E. Watson, 243, 3X9 
Elbridge A., 235, 262 
Elisabeth, 161, 308 
Eliza A., 161, 283 
Ellis, 168, 213 
Elmer, 161 
Eugene E„ 145, 249, 269^ 

319, 327, 336, 337 
Frederick W,, 338 
George, 165, 306 
George H., 232, 233 
Gertrude F., 263 
Gilbert, 228 
Hannah, 309, 317 
Hannah, 2nd, 317 
Harrison, 213, 317 
Ira B., 228 
Isaac, 235, 296 
Isaac W., 262 
Jacob, 172, 173, 317 
James, 165, 307 
Jesse M., 234 
John, 94, 103, 120, 122,. 

131, 152, 168, 189, 196, 

243, 294, 299, 307 
Eev. John, 77, 111, 120 
Maj. John, 224 
Capt. John, 225 
Lieut. John, 101, 159, 258. 
John, 3d, 228 
John, Jr., 258, 295 
John, of Middleboro, 168 
John F., 128, 190, 228, 249, 

324 
Jonathan, 22, 23, 57, 104, 

194, 196, 248, 297, 307 
Jonathan, Jr., 306 
Jonathan W., 232, 233, 237 
Joseph, 139, 166, 225, 226, 

299, 332 
Laura, 161 
Levi, 168 

Linas A., 232, 234 
Lorenzo N., 234, 325 
Lucy, 308, 310 
Lydia, 161, 309, 312, 317 
Mary, 308, 319 
Mary A., 319, 325 
Mary E., 161 
Melora, 323 
Mercy, 311 



INDEX OF NAMES 



361 



Shaw, Molly, 317 
Moses,' 294, 307 
Nancy A., 263, 324 
Nathaniel, 197, 224, 234, 

294, 299, 308, 317 
Nellie W., 162 
Oliver, 280 
Oliver, 2nd, 228 
Perez, 132, 189 
Eebeeca, 309, 312 
Samuel, 70, 144, 148, 157, 

168, 190, 226, 297, 300, 

307, 328, 330, 332 
Capt. Samuel, 132, 159, 

188, 226 
Dr. Samuel, 272, 328, 334 
Silas, 132, 189 
Silvanus, 132, 168 
Silvanus, Jr., 168 
Maj. Stillman, 224, 226 
Thomas, 63 
William M., 262, 334 
Wilson, 312 
Shaws Island, 266 
Sheep marks, 253 
Sherman, Amelia, 161 
Andrew, 311 
Anthony, 224, 225, 336 
Betsey W., 312 
Calista, 312 
Charles, 161 
Charles A., 315 
Charles L., 323 
Earl, 219 
Eben, 219 
Hannah C, 315 
Hannah M., 315 
Henry, 146, 301, 304, 326, 

332, 337 
Jabez, 80, 311 
John, 59, 224, 297, 300, 

309, 330, 332 
Joseph, 312 
Joseph W., 227 
Levi, 159, 300, 301, 304, 

312, 332, 336 
Luey, 311 
Lydia, 312 
Lydia D., 325 
Maria C, 315 
Mary, 310 
Mary E., 323 
Maryette, 313 



Sherman, Nathaniel, 104, 300, 

301, 326, 332, 336 
Nellie W., 315 
Nelson, 304, 332, 337 
Phebe A., 313 
Eufus, 159, 294, 304, 312 
Sarah A., 315 
Sherman hall, 59 
Shoemaking, 252 
Shoestring Factory, 254 
Shurtleff, Abial, 23, 107, 167, 

228, 293, 295, 300, 301, 

309, 329 
Addie A., 315 
Albert, 117, 243, 317, 337 
Albert T., viii, 233, 328, 

332, 337 
Allerton L., 58, 243 
Andrew G., 228 
Barnabas, 68, 148, 196, 

300, 301, 307, 309, 330 
Benjamin, 93, 112, 167, 

199, 203, 269, 277, 293, 

294, 296, 300, 301, 309, 

317, 329, 332, 334 
Benjamin L., 319 
Betsey, 310 
Carlton, 262 
Chloe, 323 
Cordelia F., 319 
David, 62, 108, 257, 301, 

307, 336 
Deborah, 317 
Deborah, 2nd, 317 
Ebenezer, 131, 167, 172, 

173, 317 
Elisabeth, 317 
Eliza B., 319 
Eliza G., 315 
Geneva E., 319 
Flavel, 167 
Flora M., 334 
Francis, 102, 137, 167, 224, 

225, 293, 301, 308, 326, 

328 
George, 219, 239 
George A., 334 
Gideon, 108, 131, 167, 225, 

242, 330, 332, 336 
Gideon, Jr., 167 
Hannah, 311 
Henry F., 235 



362 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Shurtleff, Ichabod, 110, 175, 176, 
177, 190, 294, 307, 320 

Ichabod, Jr., 321, 338 

James, 132 

James F., 235 

Jemina, 308 

Joel, 61 

John, 104, 295, 307 

Joseph F., 228 

Joseph T,, 161 

Levi, 165, 228, 234, 317 

Lizzie G., 315 

Lot, 132, 159, 167, 317, 336 

Lothrop, 300, 328 

Lucy, 312, 321 

Lucy T., 317 

Lula, 319, 324 

Lydia, 310, 312, 318 

Marey, 318 

Maria Y., 150, 249 

Martha, 318, 321 

Mary, 318 

Mary, 2nd, 318 

Mercy, 165, 321 

Micah G., 235, 315 

Nathaniel, 132, 167, 176, 
202 

Nathaniel, of Middleboro, 
168 

Oliver L., 262, 319, 338 

Percy W., 262, 325 

Perez T., 228, 237, 249, 319 

Peter, 123, 131, 167 

Phebe, 115, 312 

Priscilla, 165, 318 

Ehoda, 318 

Eobert, 131 

Buth, 318 

Euth B., 318 

Samuel, 307 

Samuel A., 279, 332, 334 

Stephen, 296, 310, 312, 328, 
330, 336 

Sylvia, 175, 320 

Thomas, 131, 167, 202 

William, 14, 164, 165, 295, 
315, 318 

William F., 228 
Shurtleff Park, 269 
Six-Mile brook, 20, 268 
Skipper, 192 

Skipper Edmund Place, 265 
Slug furnace, 275 



Small pox, 182, 244, 245 
Smith, Caesar, 106 

Eev. Charles, 179 

Eev. George L., 187 

Hannah, 161 

Lizzie L., 323 

Lois, 161 

Perez, 190 

Elder T., 172 

Eev. W., 183 
Snappit, 269 
Snell, Capt. Josiah, 87 
Soldiers Monument, 262 
Sons of Temperance, 160 
Sons of Veterans, 262 
Sonnett, Dorothy, 14 

Samuel, 14 
Soule, Asa, 105 

Asaph, 104 

Daniel, 106 

Ebenezer, 106 

Ephraim, 108 

James, 108 

Mary A., 318 

Zephaniah, 105 
South Carver, 16, 61 
South Meadows, 20 
South Meeting House, 121, 123, 

151, 165 
South Middleboro, 170, 177 
Souther, Emma, 161, 323 
Southworth, Carl Z., 207 

Eli, 189, 261 

Lucy A., 324 

Thomas, 133, 188, 326, 332 

Thomas M., 189, 190, 243, 
324, 328, 334 
Sparrow, Eichard, 22 
Spaulding, George L., 262 
Spruce Church, 167 
Stamp Act, 92 
Standish, Ebenezer, 107 

Moses, 107 

Nathaniel, 132, 201 

Peleg, 110 

Shadrach, 104 

Zachariah, 106 
Standish Guards, 229 
Stanley, Herbert A., 332 

Mary, 323 

William F., 323, 338 
Stetson, Edward, 143 

Jonathan, 318 



INDEX OF NAMES 



363 



Stetson, Lottie W. C, 315 

Mary Ann, 312 

Eev, Oscar F., 120, 315, 337 
Stevens, Edward, 104, 106, 800, 
332 

John, 104 

Lemuel, 106 

Sylvanus, 108 

William, 106 
Storms, Henry, 323 
Storrs, Rev. Richard S., 114 
Stringer, Ephraim E., 207 

Horace D., 262 

James H., 232, 234 

John A., 234 

Joseph F., 232, 235 
Strong, Rev. Jonathan, 77 
Sturtevant, Asa, 107 

Caleb, 105 

Cornelius, 106 

David, 110 

Frances, 101, 102, 104, 106, 
110, 131, 199 

Jesse, 102 

Nehemiah, 108 

Noah, 103 

Robert, 102, 199, 201 

Silas, 102, 106 

William, 106, 107 
Sturtevant house, 58 
Sullivan, Thomas, 239 
Swan, Lizzie, 319 

Minnie, 319 

Ponsonby M., 320 
Swan Hold, 3, 17, 266 
Swedenborg, Emanuel, 115 
Sweezy, Estelle, 320 
Sweet, Rev. Charles H., 183 
Swift, Lester W., 324 

Nehemiah G., 249, 324 

Sarah J., 162, 324 



Taber, Adeline M., 323 
Tarbox, George F., 239 
Tariff, 93 . 
Tarr, Rev. J. J. G., 120 
Taylor, John, 110 
Tea Kettle, first, 197 
Thatcher, Dr. James, 209 
Thayer, Isaac, 110 
Peter, 106 



Thomas, Abial, 195 

Arad, 318 

Augusta C, 323 

Eli, 61, 168 

Foxwell, 318 

George P., 262 

Herbert I., 323 

Isaiah, 106 

Israel, 127, 132 

John, 87, 176 

Joseph, 135 

Martha, 318 

Mary, 313, 323 

Mary E., 320 

Moses, 318 

Perez, 77 

Seneca R., 227, 229 

Susan, 318 

Thompson P., 189, 229, 323 

William, 199 
Thompson, Rev. C. S., 171 

Ezra, 151, 157, 159, 334 

Jacob, 24, 77 

Lothrop, 111 
Threshie, Charles, 205, 334 
Tibbetts, Andrew S., 229 
Tiger Field, 265 
Tihonet, 48, 123 
Tillson, Ann M. F., 312 

Augustus F., 190, 228, 243, 
335 

Bethnel, 168 

Betsey, 311 

Chester F., 161, 324 

Cintia, 321 

Deborah, 324 

Dora F., 263 

Ephraim, 22 

Edmund, 23 

Frank F., 338 

George W., 234 

Hannah, 161 

Harriett, 161 

Hiram, 133, 228 

Hiram B., 232 

Hiram O., 161, 228, 232, 
236 

Hope, 213 

Ichabod, 106, 131, 201 

Ida M., 162 

Isaiah, 103, 163, 225, 294, 
296, 298, 300, 308, 330 

James, 315 



364 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Tillson, James B., 303, 304, 312, 
327 

Joanna, 321 

John, 106, 132 

Jonathan, 138, 258, 294, 
296, 297, 300, 301, 309, 
329 

Louisa, 321 

Lucy, 308 

Luther, 132 

Marcus M., 228 

Phebe, 308 

Polly, 311 

Eeba B., 263, 324 

Eebeeca, 321 

Samuel, 295 

Stephen, 132 

Thomas, 132, 311 

Timothy, 306 

Triunan B., 332 

Wilfred A., 324, 332 

William, 315 

Zenas, 133, 189 
Tillson Farm, 62 
Tinkham, Ephraim, 14, 22, 108 

Isaac, 107 

Joseph, 110 
Tirrell, Eev. Eben, 179 
Tisdale, Samuel, 272 
Tories, 96, 258 
Tory lands, 95, 96, 258 
Town, division of, 47, 48, 67 

fined, 259 

hall, 141 

meeting places, 140 

officers, 35 

pound, 142 

records, iv 
Totman, Elisabeth, 308 

Joshua, 107, 308 
Tobey, Gerard, 206 

Eev. James J., 171, 320, 
335 

Mary, 162 

Mary A., 320 
Tozer, Eev. William, 179 
Tounsend, Eev. Paul, 179 
Training field, 258, 269 
Tripp, John, 164, 165, 171, 172 
Trudo, Nelson, 239 
Tubbs, Benjamin, 106 
Turner Place, 268 
Turner, Hannah, 16 



Turner, Job A., 268 
Tithingnien, 46, 141 



Undesirable citizens, 47 
Union meetings, decline of, 81 
Union Cemetery, 249 
Union Society, 188 
United Fruit Co., 283 
UniversaUsm, 116 
Universalists, 185, 186 



Vail, Adonrram W., 229 

Hannah, 318 

Hazadiah, 318 

Isaac B., 232, 235 
Valley Forge, 107 
Van Schaack, George W., 324 

Mary Page, 273 
Vaughan, Abigail, 308 

Alvin, 159, 294, 297, 303, 
304 

Austin N., 183, 325 

Bertha F., 320 

Charles E., 325 

Christina C, 320 

Daisey, 263, 324 

Daniel, 104, 107, 300, 304, 
308, 310 

David, 168, 318 

Desire, 162, 320 

Edward, 161 

Edwin A., 320 

Elisabeth, 308 

Eunice, 181, 311, 325 

Ezra, 304, 313 

Hannah, 310 

Huldah, 309, 318 

Isaac, 183, 304, 311, 328, 

329, 335, 336 
Isaac C, 229 

James, 79, 139, 143, 300, 

310, 332 
James A., 161, 172, 173, 

243, 249, 320, 329, 335 
J. Erville, 325 
Joseph, 104, 258, 300, 310 
Julia F., 325 
Levi, 115, 158, 159, 224, 

225, 293, 296, 297, 300, 

301, 303, 304, 305, 310, 

330, 336 



INDEX OF NAMES 



365 



Vaughan, Levi C, 237 

Lewis, 310, 329 

Lydia, 310 

Mrs. L. C, 162 

Minnie M., 325 

Nathaniel, 225, 296, 329 

Phebe, 181, 311, 313 

Polly, 313 

Eebecea, 311 

Samuel, 107, 190 

Sarah S., 311 

Susannah, 310 

Theodore T., 161, 249, 332, 
336 

Thomas, 248, 328, 332, 335, 
336 

Waitstill, 181, 311, 325 

Webster E. C, 325 

William E. H., 325 

William E. W., 183, 325 
Veal, Sylvia, 311 

William, 311 
Vinal, Blanche E., 320 

Cora E., 320 

Mrs. E., 320 

Eev. H. T., 171, 320 
Virgin, Melissa C, 313 

Samuel, 313 
Voters of Plympton 1708-9, 44, 
45 



Wade, Abbie W., 325 

Esther A., 325 

Henry W., 325 

William, 239 
Walker & Pratt Co., 215, 274 
Wallace, Eev. S. Y., 179 
Wallis, James, 297 
Wankinquoah, 2, 4, 17 
Wankinco bog, 220 
War of 1812, vii, 241 
Ward, Ann Janette, 315 

Ansel, 228 

Ansel B., 234, 335 

Austin, 237 

Benjamin, 96, 97, 106, 121, 
122, 131, 168, 226, 227, 
318, 332 

Col. Benjamin, 132, 213, 
224 225 

Capt. Benj., 139, 226, 332 



Ward, Benjamin, Jr., 168 

Clara E., 315 

Eliab, 141, 146, 243, 318, 
332, 335, 337 

Ephraim, 131, 132, 168 

Fred A., 249, 315, 332, 336 

Henry T., 238 

Mary B., 313 

Molly, 318 

Priscilla, 318 

Sally, 318 

Stillman, 313, 332 
,Stillman W., 240 

E«v. wmiam I., 179 
Warren Association, 165 
Warren, Benjamin, 77 
Washburn, Asaph, 61, 80, 132, 
296, 310, 330 

Charles P., 207 

Deborah, 309 

Elva H., 263, 324 

Emma G., 315 

Henry C, 321 

Jemima, 310 

Jemima D., 312 

Joanna, 321 

John, 106 

Joseph G., 234 

Joseph H., 315 

Louisa, 321 

Marshall A., 235, 321 

Mary, 310 

Mary E., 323 

Nathan H., 323 

Olive S., 318 

Peleg B., 235 

Perez, 133, 310, 329 

Salmon, 202 

Samuel D., 323 

Sarah B., 312 

Sarah W., 323 

Sophia, 310 

Virginia H., 323 

William, 61, 107, 131 
Waterman, Amanda, 313 

Benjamin, 202 

Eliphalet, 105 

Hannah, 310 

Ichabod, 202 

Isaac, 86, 196, 297, 307 

James, 229, 312 

John, 22, 296 

Joanna, 311 



366 



HISTORY OF CARVER 



Waterman, Phebe D., 313 

Eobert, 110 

T. Kogers, 202 
Wattins, Ruth, 309 
Wattis, Sarah, 308 
Watson, George, 22, 194 

Goodman, 22 

Mary Jane, 318 

Robert, 318 
Watsons Cove Brook, 194 
Wenham, 266 
Weddling, Charles, 323 
West, Samuel, 110 
Westgate, Ephraim C, 321 

George H., 207, 323 

Howard G., 207 

Rufus S., 207 
Weston, Daniel, 272 

Frank F., 262 

Hannah, 189 

Jabez, 106 

Job, 102 

Seneca T., 262 

Thomas, 197 

Zadock, 103 
Wheeler, Sarah L., 313 
Wheton, Elisabeth, 308 
Whidden, Simeon L., 320 
White, Benjamin, 131, 138, 168, 
200, 332, 336 

Eva L., 320 

Friend, 209 

George E., 243, 320 

Helen E., 320 

Henry, 232, 234 

Samuel, 202 
Whites Mill, 254 
Whitehead, James C, 243 

Leah M., 315 
Whitcomb, Hannah L,, 318 

Dr. Jonah, 245 

Rev. William C, 120, 313 
Whiting, Benjamin, 77 

William, 107, 110 
Whitton, Azariah, 295 

Joseph, 108 

Elisha, 103 
Wild game, 264 
Williams, Rev. Edward, 179 

Hilma, 323 

Mary A., 323 
Winatuxet, 2, 17 



Winberg, Hattie D,, 263, 324 

John A., 207 
Winter, Almeda E., 315 
Witham, John, 229 
Witon, Ruth, 308 

Priscilla, 309 

Isaiah, 306 

John, 306 
Wolf Island, 266 
Woman's Alliance, 263 
Woman's C. T. Union, 162 
Wood, Benjamin, 306 

David, 103, 104, 295, 308 

Dinah, 318 

G. F., 335 

Lillian F., 320 

Lydia, 308 

Nathaniel, 22 

Noah, 202 

Rebecca, 308 

Samuel, 307 
Wright, Adam, 103 

Agatha, 318 

Benjamin, 103 

Caleb, 210, 318 

Ebenezer, 110 

Edmund, 110 

Hattie, 323 

Isaac, 106 

Jacob, 106 

James, 132, 213, 318 

Joseph, 104, 106, 108, 110, 
257 

Joshua, 108 

Levi, 106 

Rev. Luther, 113, 120 

Mercy, 318 

Molly, 318 

Moses, 166, 318 

Nathan, 110 

Samuel, 104, 106 

Stephen, 210 

Winslow, 318 

Zadock, 108, 132 

Zoath, 132, 213 
Wrightington, Benjamin, 131, 
207, 318, 321 

Cynthia M., 315 

David, 318 

Henry, 210, 315 

Thomas, 188 

Thomas W., 228 






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